THE  LIBRARY 

OF 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

Biology  Library 

BEQUEST  OF 

Theodore  S.  Palmer 


v   •       **J  . 


/ 


A.    LIST 


OF 


THE  BIEDS  OF  MARYLAND 


GIVING   DATES   OP   THE 


ARRIVAL,  DEPARTURE  AND  NESTING  PERIODS 
OF  OUR  REGULAR  BIRDS; 


ALSO 


INCLUDING-  STEAGGLEES  AND   SUCH  OTHEES  AS  NO  DOUBT 
OCCUE  BUT  AEE  NOT  EECOEDED. 


BY 


F.     C. [E 


KIRKWOOD. 


REPRINTED  FROM  THE  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  MARYLAND  ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCES. 


BALTIMOEE 
1895 


BIOLOGY  LIBR. 

DEUTSCH 

LITHOGRAPHING  4  PRINTING  CO. 
BALTIMORE. 


Blot. 

1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.     Li D,      241 

A  LIST  OF  THE  BIRDS  OF  MARYLAND. 

BY  F.  C.  KIBKWOOD. 

The  following  list  of  the  Birds  of  Maryland  is  the  result  of 
a  promise  made  to  the  late  Prof.  Geo.  L.  Smith  shortly  before 
his  untimely  death.  It  includes  all  our  regular  birds  and  is 
specially  intended  to  give  the  time  of  their  arrival  and  depar- 
ture and  also  their  nesting  periods.  It  also  includes  such 
stragglers  as  I  have  been  able  to  find  record  of,  and  such  as  no 
doubt  occur,  but  have  not  been  recorded  within  our  limits, 
our  state  being  very  deficient  in  ornithological  lists. 

It  is  compiled  from  the  author's  field  work  from  January  1, 
1881,  to  date,  combined  with  which  is  that  of  the  following 
gentlemen  who  kindly  gave  me  the  use  of  their  collections  and 
note  books,  and  to  whom  I  now  extend  thanks : 

Wm.  H.  Fisher,  Baltimore  City. 

Arthur  Kesler,          "  " 

W.  N.  Wholey, 

A.  T.  Hoen, 

Geo.  H.  Gray, 

P.  T.  Blogg, 

J.  Hall  Pleasants,  Jr.,  Baltimore  City. 

J.  E.  Tylor,  Easton,  Md. 

H.  W.  Stabler,  Jr.,  Sandy  Springs,  Md. 

The  late  Edgar  A.  Small,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

Robt.  Shriver,  Cumberland,  Md. 

I  have  also  to  accord  my  thanks  to  others  mentioned  in  the  < 
text  and  to  Mr.  Robt.  Ridgway,  of  Washington,  and  especially 
to  Mr.  Chas. W.  Richmond,  of  Washington,  who  has  kindly  given 
his  time  to  an  ample  review  of  the  manuscript  and  added  many 
important  notes,  giving  items  from  the  District  of  Columbia 
and  surrounding  country. 

The  large  majority  of  my  own  observations  during  the  last 
six  years  have  been  made  in  Dulaney's  Valley,  Baltimore 
County,  and  during  the  last  four  years  I  have  spent  two  weeks 

202 


242  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  [1895 

each  spring  observing  our  nesting  birds.  In  1892  and  1893, 
on  the  waters  between  Chestertown  and  Eastern  Bay ;  in  1894, 
on  Sinepuxent  and  Chincoteague  Bays,  between  the  Delaware 
and  Virginia  lines,  and  in  1895,  at  Vale  Summit  on  Dan's 
Mountain,  in  Allegany  County.  Flying  visits  have  been 
made  by  myself  and  others  to  various  other  points  within  the 
state. 

I  have  omitted  the  word  "shot"  in  a  great  many  cases,  but 
unless  it  is  expressly  stated  that  the  bird  was  only  seen,  the 
specimen  has  been  secured ;  this  of  course  not  applying  to  such 
birds  as  are  easily  identified  on  the  wing. 

In  compiling  the  number  of  a  "set"  of  eggs,  the  majority 
of  notes  are  my  own;  these  include  all  nests  with  a  completed 
complement  of  eggs,  whether  collected  or  not,  and  also  such 
nests  as  held  young  birds  from  which  none  had  flown.  In 
some  of  our  commoner  species  the  number  is  quite  large,  and 
shows  the  variation  in  a  "set"  much  better  than  the  usual 
"  four  or  five,  sometimes  three  or  six." 

I  have  omitted  mention  of  "second  nestings;"  a  good  many 
of  our  birds  nest  twice  and  some  three  times ;  but  except  in  one 
or  two  cases  I  could  not  identify  the  same  pair  of  birds,  and  as 
nests  in  all  stages,  from  "started  to  build"  to  "birds  ready  to 
fly,"  can  be  found  any  day  in  the  height  of  the  season  for  most 
of  our  commoner  species,  I  only  give  extreme  nesting  dates, 
preferring  such  as  record  eggs  where  possible. 

A  list  of  the  works  and  publications  to  which  I  have  made 
reference  is  appended.  The  nomenclature  followed,  as  also  the 
number  given,  is  that  of  the  American  Ornithologists  Union. 

The  index  kindly  prepared  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher  includes 
all  our  local  names,  each  bird  being  referred  to  under  its 
A.  O.  U.  number. 


Maryland  is  situated  between  the  parallels  of  37°  53'  and 
39°  44'  northern  latitude  and  the  meridians  of  75°  04'  and  79° 
33'  western  longitude.  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  separates  it  from 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF 'SCIENCES.  243 

Pennsylvania  and  Delaware,  and  it  is  separated  from  Virginia 
by  a  line  drawn  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  western  bank 
of  the  Potomac  River  and  low  water  line  on  the  Virginia  shore, 
this  being  the  southern  border  of  Maryland  from  the  source 
down.  From  the  source  of  the  Potomac  a  line  runs  north  to 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line.  The  gross  area  of  the  state  is  12,210 
square  miles :  9680  land ;  1203,  the  Maryland  part  of  the 
Chesapeake  ;  93,  Assateague  Bay  ;  and  1054,  smaller  estuaries 
and  rivers. 

The  three  leading  topographical  regions  of  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  United  States,  viz.,  the  Coastal  Plain,  the  Pied- 
mont Plateau,  and  the  Apalachian  region  are  all  typically 
represented  within  the  limits  of  the  state.  The  Coastal  Plain, 
or  tide-water  Maryland,  forms  the  eastern  portion,  lying  south 
of  a  line  drawn  from  Wilmington  to  Washington,  through 
Baltimore.  This  is  closely  outlined  by  the  track  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad ;  it  covers  about  $000  square  miles.  The 
Eastern  Shore,  except  in  the  extreme  north,  does  not  reach  at 
any  point  100  feet  in  elevation,  while  most  of  it  is  below  25 
feet.  It  is  deeply  cut  up  by  tide-water  rivers  and  bays.  This 
also  describes  the  tract  known  as  the  "  Necks  "  between  Balti- 
more and  Havre  de  Grace.  The  temperature  is  much  modified 
by  the  surrounding  water,  the  southern  portion  having  a  mean 
annual  temperature  of  58°  ;  but  the  greater  part  lies  between 
56°  and  54° ;  the  northern  part  averaging  52°.  Southern 
Maryland  or  the  Western  Shore  is  different,  considerable  of  it 
reaches  100  feet,  and  in  places  as  much  as  180  feet.  The  mean 
annual  temperature  seldom  exceeds  that  of  Baltimore,  which  is 
55.6°,  by  more  than  2°. 

The  Piedmont  Plateau,  or  Central  Maryland,  extends  from 
the  Coastal  Plain  to  the  Catoctin  Mountain,  and  has  an  area  of 
about  2500  square  miles;  it  is  broken  by  low,  undulating  hills, 
which  gradually  increase  in  elevation  to  the  westward.  Along 
the  eastern  margin,  heights  exceeding  400  feet  are  frequently 
reached,  and  at  Catonsville  525  feet,  while  at  Parr's  Ridge,  in 
Carroll  County,  it  rises  above  850  feet.  At  Frederick  City, 


244  TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE  [1895 

the  elevation  of  the  valley  is  about  250  feet  above  tide.  The 
mean  annual  temperature  ranges  from  50°  to  55°. 

The  Apalachian  region,  or  Western  Maryland,  consists  of  a 
series  of  parallel  mountain  ridges  with  deep  valleys  between 
them,  cut  at  nearly  right  angles  by  the  Potomac  Eiver.  The 
Catoctin  Kidge  reaches  1800  feet,  and  the  Blue  Ridge,  at  Qui- 
rauk,  2400 ;  while  at  Middletown  and  Hagerstown  the  eleva- 
tion is  500.  The  mountains  proper  begin  at  North  Mountain, 
and  reach  in  a  number  of  cases  3000  feet  and  over ;  while  the 
valleys  near  the  Potomac  have  an  elevation  of  500  feet  rapidly 
ascending ;  the  river  at  Cumberland  being  about  600  feet. 
The  mean  average  temperature  ranges  from  50°  to  53°. 

In  the  above  mentioned  areas,  the  Coastal  Plain  and  the 
Piedmont  Plateau  are  ornithologically  within  what  is  usually 
considered  as  the  Carolina  faunal  area,  as  shown  by  the  nesting 
of  the  Cardinal,  Carolina  Wren,  Tufted  Tit,  etc.  It  will  be 
found  to  be  fairly  divided  into  two  sub-faunal  regions.  In  the 
lower,  or  Coastal  Plain,  will  be  found  the  Mockingbird,  Fish 
Hawk  and  Fish  Crow,  breeding  in  numbers.  In  the  southern 
part  of  Maryland  will  be  found  traces  of  a  still  more  southern 
faunal  area,  the  Louisiana,  distinguished  by  the  presence  of  the 
Brown-headed  Nuthatch. 

The  eastern  part  of  the  Apalachian  region  is  also  included 
in  the  Carolina  faunal  area.  The  Alleghanian  fauna  covers 
the  mountain  region  from  North  Mountain  westward,  it  also 
appears  an  the  higher  parts  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  This  faunal 
region  is  the  breeding  range  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler, 
Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  Wilson's  Thrush,  etc.  As  this  section 
has  never  been  fully  investigated  by  ornithologists,  there 
remains  the  possibility,  as  suggested  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Richmond, 
that  the  Snowbird  (Junco  hyemalis)  may  yet  be  found  breeding 
in  some  of  the  hemlock  tracts  still  standing;  this  would  give 
a  tinge  of  a  more  northern  faunal  area,  the  Canadian. 

A  circle  drawn  round  Baltimore  City,  with  its  centre  at 
Baltimore  and  Charles  streets,  and  a  15-mile  radius,  will  take 
in  over  one-half  of  Baltimore  County,  and  parts  of  Anne 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  245 

Arundel  and  Howard  Counties,  a  small  portion  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  Patapsco,  Back,  Middle  and  Gunpowder  Rivers. 
In  this  circle  a  great  diversity  of  country  is  found.  The  part 
of  Anne  Arundel  included  is  nearly  level  and  low  lying,  as  is 
also  the  "Necks"  of  Baltimore  County.  On  these  necks  and 
also  along  as  far  as  Havre- de-Grace,  are  located  the  famous 
ducking  clubs  of  the  Chesapeake.  The  water  is  brackish,  or 
salty,  rising  and  falling  with  the  tide.  The  timber  is  prin- 
cipally short  leafed  pine.  The  other  part  of  Baltimore  and 
Howard  Counties  is  more  or  less  hilly,  rising  in  places  to  over 
700  feet.  The  water  courses  are  swift  running  streams  in  more 
or  less  deep  cuts,  some  even  in  rocky  gorges.  These  steep  banks 
and  most  of  the  uneven  land  is  heavily  wooded  with  oaks, 
chestnut,  beech,  etc.  (pines  only  appearing  in  small  isolated 
patches),  while  the  level  ground  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. All  observations  to  which  a  locality  is  not  given  are 
within  this  circle;  in  special  cases  within  this  circle,  and  in  all 
outside  it,  the  exact  location  is  given. 

The  section  usually  worked  by  Messrs.  A.  T.  Hoen,  W.  N. 
Wholey,  and  myself,  extends  from  Waverly,  in  the  northern 
part  of  Baltimore  City,  to  Towson,  and  so  through  Dulaney's 
Valley,  across  the  lower  half  of  Long  Green  Valley  to  the 
Harford  pike  and  back  to  Baltimore ;  Mr.  J.  Hall  Pleasants 
working  within  it  around  Towson. 

Waverly  has  an  elevation  of  200  feet  and  Towson  500. 
The  lowest  point  in  Dulaney's  Valley  is  the  level  of  Loch 
Raven,  170  feet.  The  ridge  between  Dulaney's  and  Long 
Green  Valleys  reaches  560  feet.  Long  Green  Valley  is  all 
above  250  feet.  The  Gunpowder  River  crosses  this  area  in  a 
zigzag  course,  at  nearly  right  angles,  its  banks,  except  in 
Dulaney's  Valley,  being  precipitous.  Four  miles  of  it  consti- 
tutes Loch  Raven. 

Mr.  Wm.  H.  Fisher's  usual  basis  of  observation  is  from 
Mount  Washington  to  Lutherville,  including  Lake  Roland  on 
Jones  Falls  (230  feet  above  tide),  and  the  Green  Spring  Valley, 
which,  starting  at  260  feet,  near  Sherwood,  gradually  ascends  as 


246  TRANSACTIONS   OP  THE  [1895 

it  goes  westward.  The  country  north  and  south  of  this  valley 
is  very  uneven  and  high  (560  feet  in  some  places). 

Messrs.  G.  H.  Gray  and  P.  T.  Blogg,  working  to  the  west  of 
the  city,  have  quite  a  different  country,  most  of  their  observations 
being  made  in  the  rocky,  heavily  timbered  gorge  of  Gwynn's 
Falls,  between  Calverton  and  Powhattan.  The  bed  of  the  falls 
at  Calverton  has  an  elevation  of  80  feet,  and  at  Powhatan  dam 
of  320  feet,  the  country  on  both  sides  ranging  from  300  to 
500  feet. 

Mr.  A.  Resler  takes  another  field,  collecting  a  good  deal  on 
Patapsco  marsh,  just  south  of  the  city,  also  "down  the  necks/' 
and  near  Botterill  Post-Office,  in  Howard  County,  14  miles 
from  Baltimore. 

Order  PYGOPODES— DIVING  BIRDS. 

Family  PODICIPID^E — Grebes. 
Colymbus  holboellii  (2).     Holbcell's  Grebe. 

"Not  uncommon  on  the  Potomac  in  winter"  (A.  C.,  110), 
this  species  has  been  taken  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  at 
other  points  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  (Birds  E.  Pa. 
and  N.  J.,  38),  so  I  presume  it  occurs  all  over  tide  water 
Maryland.  On  February  25, 1894, 1  watched  one  for  about  an 
hour  at  Lake  Roland  where  it  was  swimming  around  in  a  hole 
in  the  ice,  which  otherwise  covered  the  lake.  Later,  when  we 
threw  stones  at  it,  it  would  neither  fly  nor  dive,  so  we  left  it. 

Colymbus  auritus  (3).     Horned  Grebe. 

Fairly  common  in  tide-water  Maryland  during  migrations, 
a  number  winter  with  us.  'Noted  from  October  7  ('76,  Resler) 
at  Back"  River,  to  April  23  ('90,  Resler),  at  the  same  place. 
April  25,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  (Richmond).  Inland,  a  young 
male,  shot  at  New  Market,  Carroll  County,  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Hop- 
kins, was  presented  in  the  flesh  on  February  21,  '81,  to  the 
Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences.  A  pair,  male  and  female, 
were  taken  at  Hagerstown  on  April  16,  '83  (Small),  and  Mr. 
Robert  Shriver  has  secured  specimens  at  Cumberland. 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  247 

Podilymbus  podiceps  (6).     Pied-billed  Grebe. 

Common  from  September  1  ('93)  to  March  31  ('88,  Res- 
ler),  a  few  stay  with  us  to  breed,  but,  as  far  as  I  know,  the 
nest  has  not  been  found  in  Maryland.  Specimens  have  been 
taken  on  April  28  ('93)  and  July  31  ('75,  Kesler),  at  Back 
River.  At  Hagerstown,  in  June  ('80,  Small),  and  near 
Westminster,  early  in  September  ('80,  Fisher)  nine,  possibly  a 
family,  were  taken  in  one  day  from  a  mill  pond.  At  Wash- 
ington, common  from  August  25  to  May  (Richmond). 

Family  URINATORID^ — Loons. 
Urinator  imber  (7).     Loon. 

Fairly  common  during  winter  on  ocean  front,  Chesapeake 
Bay,  and  larger  waters  of  Maryland.  In  New  Jersey  it  is 
given  as  arriving  October  3  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  39),  but 
I  have  only  spring  dates  ranging  from  March  9  ('91,  Fisher),  at 
Legoe's  Point,  to  June  17  ('93,  J.  F.  Hargreaves),  when  a  very 
noisy  pair  were  on  the  Gunpowder  River,  near  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  bridge.  Mr.  W.  S.  Walker,  of  Chestertown,  writes 
me  that  it  is  "one  of  the  last  birds  to  leave  Chester  River." 
At  Washington,  from  September  to  April  25  (Richmond). 
Audubon  says  (vii,  284):  "the  Loon  breeds  in  various  parts  of 
the  United  States  from  Maryland  to  Maine.  I  have  ascertained 
that  it  nestles  in  the  former  of  these  states  on  the  Susquehanna 
River."  Not  known  to  nest  here  now. 

Urinator  lumme  (11).     Red-throated  Loon. 

Occasionally  taken  on  our  waters  during  winter.  On  February 
16,  1878,  the  late  A.  Wolle  presented  the  Maryland  Academy 
of  Sciences  with  shells  taken  from  the  stomach  of  one  of  these 
birds,  presumably  captured  near  Baltimore. 

"Not  uncommon  on  the  (Potomac)  River  during  the  winter 
months"  (A.  C.,  110).  "In  the  spring  of  1882  one  was  caught  in 
a  gill  net  in  the  Potomac  River,  a  few  miles  below  Washington, 
and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  O.  N.  Bryan,  of  Marshall 


248  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Hall,  Md."  (H.  M.  Smith  and  W.  Palmer,  Auk,  v,  147).  One 
shot  on  Chester  Elver  was  sent  to  the  Smithsonian  for  idendi- 
fication  by  Hiram  Brown,  Pomona,  Md.  (Smith.  Report,  1885, 
192),  "and  I  also  learn  from  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  of  another,  cap- 
tured on  the  Potomac,  near  Fort  Washington,  October  20,  1889" 
(Birds  Vas.,  41). 

Family  ALCID^ — Auks,  Murres,  and  Puffins: 
Cepphus  grylle  (27).     Black  Guillemot. 

South  in  winter  to  New  Jersey  (Manual,  16).  Audubon 
says  (vii,  273),  "during  severe  winters,  I  have  seen  the  Black 
Guillemot  playing  over  the  water  as  far  south  as  the  shores  of 
Maryland.  Such  excursions,  however,  are  of  rare  occurence." 

Alca  torda  (32).     Kazor-billed  Auk. 

"Winter  visitant  on  the  New  Jersey  coast;  one  specimen  was 
secured  by  Dr.  W.  L.  Abbott  as  far  south  as  Cape  May7' 
(Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  41).  "Capt.  Chas.  H.  Crumb  in- 
forms me  that  three  have  been  taken  near  Cobb's  Island,  two 
in  1884  and  one  in  1887,  one  of  which  is  now  in  my  possession" 
(Birds  Vas.,  4),  and  several  more  were  taken  during  the  winter 
of  1892-93  (Capt.  Crumb  in  letter  to  Wm.  H.  Fisher). 

Alle  alle  (34).     Dovekie. 
* 

"Regular  winter  visitant  along  the  New  Jersey  coast,  varying 

in  abundance  from  year  to  year"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  41). 
On  December  9,  1877,  one  was  caught  alive  on  the  sea  beach 
near  Ocean  City,  Md.,  and  sent  to  the  Maryland  Academy  of 
Sciences  by  Mr.  Robert  Henry,  of  Berlin,  Md.  Capt.  Crumb 
has  taken  two  at  Cobb's  Island. 

Order  LONGIPENNES— LONG-WINGED  SWIMMERS. 

Family  STERCORARIID^ — Jaegers  and  Skuas. 
Stercorarius  pomarinus  (36).     Pomarine  Jaeger. 
Winters  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Long  Island  southward. 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  249 

Stercorarius  parasiticus  (37).     Parasitic  Jaeger. 

Winters  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  the  middle  states 
southward. 

Stercorarius  longicaudus  (38).     Long-tailed  Jaeger. 

Migrates  south  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico and  West  Indies. 

No  doubt  all  three  of  the  Jaegers  occur  off  our  coast,  but  we 
have  no  record  of  them. 

Family  LARID^: — Gulls  and  Terns. 
Rissa  tridactyla  (40).     Kittiwake. 

"  Very  rare  winter  visitant  on  the  New  Jersey  coast"  (Birds 
E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  42).  "  About  ten  years  ago  the  late  -Henry 
B.  Graves,  of  Berk's  County,  mounted  a  young  Kittiwake 
which  had  been  captured  near  Lancaster  City,  in  midwinter,"  and 
"Dr.  A.  C.  Treichler,  of  Elizabethtown,  mentions  the  species 
as  a  straggler  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa."  (Birds  Pa.,  17). 
"  Captain  Crumb  reports  this  species  as  a  rare  and  irregular 
winter  visitant  at  Cobb's  Island,  but  he  has  never  taken  a  spec- 
imen "  (Birds  Vas.,  41). 

Larus  leucopterus  (43).     Iceland  Gull  (?). 

On  November  23,  1893,  I  saw  a  pure  white  gull  in  the  in- 
ner harbor  of  Baltimore  City.  It  came  within  fifty  feet  of  me 
at  times,  as  I  watched  it  for  fully  half  an  hour.  In  reply  to  a 
description  of  this  bird,  which  I  sent  to  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway,  he 
writes  :  "The  gull  which  you  think  may  be  the  young  of  L. 
leucopterus,  is  undoubtedly  what  American  ornithologists  here 
consider  and  describe  as  the  young  of  that  species.  There  is  a 
question,  however,  whether  it  is  not  in  reality  the  young  of 
L.  kumlieni.  There  are  no  present  means  of  settling  the 
question,  there  being  no  specimens  of  undoubted  young  of  L. 
leucopterus  in  any  American  collection  so  far  as  I  know." 


250  TRANSACTIONS    OF    THE  [1895 

Larus  marinus  (47).     Great  Black-backed  Gull. 

"Rare  winter  visitant  along  the  New  Jersey  coast,  a  few, 
however,  probably  occur  every  year"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J., 
43).  "Has  been  taken  (including  the  adult)  at  Cobb's  Island, 
where  on  the  authority  of  Capt.  Crumb  it  is  not  common, 
though  seen  every  winter"  (Birds  Vas.,  41)  ;  "south  coastwise 
in  winter  to  Florida"  (Key,  p.  743).  On  January  27,  1895, 
at  Holly  Point,  I  saw  one  of  these  birds  circling  over  the 
mouth  of  Gunpowder  River,  but  it  kept  considerably  out  of 
range. 

Larus  argentatus  smithsonianus  (51a).     American  Herring 

Gull. 

In  Baltimore  harbor  this  species  is  a  common  winter  resident, 
common  over  the  Basin  at  Light  and  Pratt  streets,  where  they 
live  on  the  refuse.  During  the  latter  part  of  September  I 
could  not  find  any,  but  quite  a  number  were  at  hand  on  October 
5,  ('94).  On  May  1,  (?95),  a  number  were  observed,  and  on 
May  6,  ('95),  two  were  in  Canton  Hollow.  They  also  occur 
on  all  our  waters,  but  not  in  numbers  as  they  appear  in  our 
harbor.  "Common  in  winter  at  Washington"  (Richmond). 

Larus  delawarensis  (54).     Ring-billed  Gull. 

At  Washington  "seen  over  the  river  during  the  winter 
months,  more  frequently  than  the  Herring  Gull"  (A.  C.,  108). 
"Winters  abundantly  on  the  coast  of  the  Middle  States,  I  saw 
it  continually  during  two  winters  over  the  harbor  of  Baltimore 
where  it  flies  among  the  shipping,  with  Bonaparte's  Gulls  and 
several  kinds  of  terns"  (Birds  N.  W.,  638). 

However  the  above  may  have  been  when  Dr.  Coues  was  at 
Fort  McHenry,  I  have  been  unable  to  substantiate  the  state- 
ment, a  stray  tern  being  of  very  unusual  occurrence  above  the 
Fort,  while  Bonaparte's  Gull,  as  a  rule,  keeps  below  it.  My  only 
spring  notes  are  of  two  near  Holly  Point  over  Gunpowder  River 
on  March  25  (?94),  and  a  few  in  the  lower  harbor  on  March 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF    SCIENCES.  251 

29  ('95),  but  in  fall  they  are  noted  near  Fort  McHenry  from 
September  26  ('94)  to  November  6  ('94). 

Mr.  Ridgway  writes  me :  "As  to  Larus  delawarensis  wintering 
near  Baltimore,  it  may  occasionally  do  so,  but  not  in  any  con- 
siderable numbers.  Here,  on  the  Potomac,  it  is  not  considered 
a  winter  resident,  though  it  migrates  northward  very  early  in 
spring/7  and  Mr.  C.  W.  Richmond  writes:  "Not  a  winter 
visitant  at  Washington,  it  was  common  during  March  until  the 
30th,  1890.  Noted  from  February  to  April  5,  and  again  in 
October  and  November." 

Larus  atricilla  (58).     Laughing  Gull. 

Common  migrant  from  April  28  ('94,  Wholey)  to  May  22 
('95),  and  from  September  29  ('94)  to  October  12  ('94). 
A  few  may  spend  the  summer  with  us,  two  pairs  being  noted 
at  Patapsco  Marsh  on  July  3  ('93,  Blogg). 

"  One  of  the  most  abundant  gulls  at  Cobb's  Island,  where 
numbers  commence  to  breed  about  the  20th  of  June"  (Birds 
Yas.,  41).  I  have  been  told  they  breed  at  Chincoteague  Island, 
and  from  the  fact  that  I  saw  a  few  flying  north  in  the  morning 
and  south  in  the  evening  over  Chincoteague  Bay,  in  Maryland, 
I  presume  they  do,  though  a  search  of  ten  days  (June  5  to  14, 
'94)  failed  to  locate  a  breeding  site  on  the  ocean  front  of 
Maryland,  and  I  also  failed  during  two  seasons  ('92  and  '93) 
to  locate  a  breeding  site  on  the  Chesapeake,  though  frequently 
told  of  them  by  the  fishermen,  and  frequently  seeing  paired  birds. 

Larus  Philadelphia  (60).     Bonaparte's  Gull. 

A  tolerably  common  migrant,  noted  from  March  24  ('94, 
Fisher)  to  May  17  ('9 3), -and  from  October  5  ('94)  to  November 
9  ('92,  Resler) ;  a  few  may  also  winter  with  us  (Birds  N. W.,  638). 
While  this  species  may  come  up  the  harbor  with  the  Herring 
Gulls,  I  do  not  think  it  ever  comes  beyond  the  broad  water  at 
Broadway  Ferry.  At  Washington  they  are  given  as  "compara- 
tively common  in  August  and  September"  (A.  C.,  108). 


252  TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE  [1895 

Gelochelidon  nilotica  (63).     Gull-billed  Tern. 

"Rare  visitant  along  the  New  Jersey  coast,  where  it  is 
reported  to  have  bred  formerly  ('As  late  as  1886,  according  to 
Mr.  H.  G.  Parker'  [O.  and  O.,  1886,  p.  138])."  (Birds  E. 
Pa.  and  N.  J.,  44.) 

On  May  19,  20,  21,  1892,  Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher  noted  this 
species  at  Cobb's  Island,  Ya.,  where,  Mr.  H.  B. .  Bailey  says, 
"a  few  pairs  were  seen,  but  they  had  not  commenced  to  breed 
during  my  visit,  May  25  to  29,  1875.  They  nest  here  sparingly, 
however,  as  I  had  a  set  of  their  eggs  sent  me  which  were  laid 
the  last  of  June"  (Auk,  i,  24-28),  and,  May  14  to  28,  1894, 
they  "seem  to  be  rapidly  diminishing  in  numbers,  being  far 
less  numerous  than  I  observed  them  on  two  previous  trips  in 
1891  and  1892,  when  I  was  collecting  in  vicinity  of  Smith's 
Island,  Ya."  (E.  J.  Brown,  Auk,  xi,  259).  Casual  at  Wash- 
ington (Richmond). 

Sterna  tschegrava  (64).     Caspian  Tern. 

Rare  migrant  along  the  Atlantic  coast. 

On  July  4,  1880,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  found  two  nests  with 
two  eggs  in  each,  they  were  at  opposite  ends  of  Cobb's  Island, 
and  about  ten  miles  apart  (B.  N.  O.  C.,  v,  221-22-23).  "Capt. 
Crumb  has  found  three  sets  of  eggs  in  July "  (Birds  Yas., 
p.  42). 

"Hon.  J.  J.  Libhart,  in  his  ornithological  report,  published 
in  the  history  of  Lancaster  County,  records  the  capture  of  two 
of  these  birds  on  the  Susquehanna  at  Marietta,  Pa.,  on  Septem- 
ber 21,  1847"  (Birds  Pa.,  19). 

Sterna  maxima  (65).     IJoyal  Tern. 

"They  have  always  been  found  breeding  on  a  small  sand  bar 
off  Cobb's  Island,  but  it  was  washed  away  during  the  winter  of 
1874-75,  and  although  the  birds  were  flying  about  (May  25-29, 
7 75),  they  had  not  chosen  any  spot  on  which  to  breed;  but 
they  undoubtedly  did  so  later"  (H.  B.  Bailey,  Auk,  i,  24-28). 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  253 

On  July  4,  1880,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  saw  an  immense  colony 
there  (B.  N.  O.  C.,  v,  221-22-23),  and  "Captain  Crumb  has 
found  eggs  in  the  latter  part  of  June "  (Birds  Vas.,  42). 
"Rare  straggler  on  the  New  Jersey  coast  during  summer" 
(Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  45). 

Sterna  forsteri  (69).     Forster's  Tern. 

"It  is  the  commonest  tern  in  winter  and  during  the  migra- 
tions in  the  harbor  of  Baltimore"  (Birds  N.  W.,  679).  On 
March  4,  1893,  during  a  severe  snow  storm,  I  saw  several 
terns  flying  over  the  channel  off  Sparrow's  Point,  'which  I  be- 
lieve were  of  this  species,  but  they  did  not  come  close  enough 
to  be  positively  identified. 

They  have  been  taken  near  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  have 
been  found  quite  abundant  over  the  lower  Potomac  by  Mr.  P. 
L.  Jouy  (Field  and  Forrest,  vii,  29). 

On  the  evening  of  June  5,  1894,  at  North  Beach,  about  ten 
miles  south  of  Ocean  City,  Md.,  I  saw  some  boys  who  had 
gathered  about  200  "Striker"  eggs,  and  were  proceeding  to 
cook  same  for  their  supper ;  they  had  also  shot  a  number  of  birds 
which,  on  examination,  I  found  to  be  all  Forster's  Terns.  Next 
day,  June  6,  1894,  I  visited  a  marshy  island  with  probably  2000 
terns  over  it,  and  as  far  as  I  could  observe  all  were  forsteri. 
Here  I  noted  12  nests  with  3  eggs,  19  with  2  and  41  with  1 ; 
how  many  without  eggs  I  am  unable  to  say. 

On  June  7  I  visited  two  other  much  smaller  "  tumps "  about 
three  miles  distant ;  about  200  birds  here,  on  one  there  were  7 
nests  with  1  egg  each,  and  on  the  other  7  with  1,  and  1  with  2; 
this  was  evidently  where  the  boys  had  been,  as  innumerable  nests 
were  empty.  On  June  10  I  again  visited  all  three  of  these 
"tumps"  and  on  the  larger  one  noted  7  nests  with  3  eggs,  7  with 
2,  and  19  with  1,  the  number  of  unoccupied  nests  being  greater 
than  before.  On  the  smaller  "tumps"  I  saw  respectively 
1  of  2,  and  6  of  1  ;  and  3  of  2  and  4  of  1  ;  and  more  unoc- 
cupied nests.  Here  the  birds  were  much  fewer  than  before, 
while  at  the  largest  "tump"  there  appeared  to  be  more  than 


254  TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE  [1895 

on  the  6th.     These  nesting  places  had  been  visited  by  other 
parties  between  my  visits. 

Sterna  hirundo  (70).     Common  Tern. 

"In  North  America  chiefly  confined  to  the  Eastern  Provin- 
ces, breeding  variously  throughout  its  range7'  (A.  O.  U.).  Ap- 
parently migratory,  three  specimens  were  taken  on  May  6  (776, 
Resler)  out  of  a  number  seen  at  Patapsco  marsh  ;  and  on  May 
17  (793),  one  was  shot  at  the  same  place.  On  September 
1  ('93,  A.  Wolle),  four  were  shot  out  of  about  fifteen  at  Gun- 
powder marsh,  these  I  examined. 

Sometimes  common,  but  an  irregular  migrant  at  Washington 
(Richmond). 

Sterna  paradisaea  (71).     Arctic  Tern. 

Breeding  from  Massachusettes  northward,  this  species  comes 
south  in  winter  along  the  Atlantic  coast  at  least  as  far  as  Vir- 
ginia. 

Sterna  dougalli  (72).     Koseate  Tern. 

This  southern  species,  going  regularly  north  in  summer  to 
Maine,  "  doubtless  breeds "  at  Cobb's  Island  (H.  B.  Bailey, 
Auk,  i,  24-28),  and  is  a  "rare  straggler  on  the  New  Jersey  coast 
during  summer ;  formerly  it  is  reported  to  have  bred  in  consid- 
erable numbers"  (Birds  E.  P.  and  N.  J.,  47). 

Sterna  antillarum  (74).     Least  Tern. 

A  summer  resident  in  restricted  localities,  this  species  is  usu- 
ally seen  during  migrations. 

On  June  13,  (?94),  I  visited  a  nesting  colony  at  the  juncture 
of  Miles  River  with  Eastern  Bay,  where,  on  a  small  island,  I 
found  four  sets  of  three ;  twelve  of  two,  and  eight  single  eggs . 
how  many  other  nesting  hollows  it  is  impossible  to  say,  as 
they  are  so  slight  they  show  no  signs  of  a  nest  until  an  egg  is 
deposited.  During  the  fall  of  1893,  this  species  was  noted  at 
Lake  Roland  on  August  19  and  20,  and  September  3  and 
4  (Fisher). 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES.  255 

Sterna  fuliginosa  (75).     Sooty  Tern. 

North  to  the  Carolinas  and  casually  to  New  England ;  "there 
is  a  specimen  from  Baltimore  in  the  National  Museum  at 
Washington,  obtained  from  the  late  Mr.  A.  Wolle  (Robert 
Bidgway). 

"Dr.  A.  C.  Treichler  mentions  it  as  a  straggler  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa."  (Birds  Pa.,  23). 

Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  (77).     Black  Tern. 

While  this  species  is  locally  common  over  the  whole  of 
North  America,  I  can  find  but  few  records  for  the  vicinity  of 
Maryland.  At  Washington,  it  is  given  as  "less  numerous  than 
the  Least  Tern,  found  at  same  seasons"  (A.C.,  109)  "  Not  un- 
common in  the  early  fall  at  Cobb's  Island,  Va.  It  has  been 
seen  there  in  the  breeding  season,  but  is  not  known  to  breed  " 
(Birds  Vas.,  43).  "Transient,  occurring  on  the  New  Jersey 
coast,  but  much  less  abundantly  than  formerly.  Mr.  Scott 
states  that  it  arrived  at  Long  Branch  in  1879,  about  June  11, 
and  soon  became  common  ;  although  it  remained  all  summer, 
it  was  not  known  to  breed  (B.  N.  O.  C.,  '79)"  (Birds  E.  Pa. 
and  N.  J.,  48). 

The  Smithsonian  acknowledged  "Skin  of  short-tailed  Tern, 
from  Potomac  Eiver,  Thos.  Marron"  (Smith.  Rep.  1891,  793). 

On  May  17, 1893,  Alex.  Wolle  shot  one  on  Patapsco  marsh,  and 
on  August  25,  1893,  Richard  Cantter  shot  another  near  Upper 
Marlborough ;  both  of  these  I  examined  in  the  flesh. 

Family  RYNCHOPIDJE — Skimmers. 
Rynchops  nigra  (80).    Black  Skimmer. 

This  strictly  maritime  bird  of  our  southern  coast  goes  regu- 
larly north  to  New  Jersey,  where  it  is  recorded  from  June 
10  until  September  25  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  48).  On 
June  19,  1880,  a  specimen  was  presented  to  the  Maryland 
Academy  of  Sciences,  presumably  taken  near  Baltimore. 

"Individuals  were  once  seen  by  ourselves  on  the  Potomac, 


256  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

some  distance  below  Washington,  September  8,  1858"  (A.  C., 
109). 

At  Cobb's  Island,  Va.,  from  May -25  to  29,  1875,  they  were 
found  in  flocks  of  20  or  30,  as  they  do  not  breed  until  the 
last  of  June  (H.  B.  Bailey,  Auk,  i,  28),  and  just  before  dusk 
on  May  20,  1891,  four  were  seen  there  (Fisher). 

"  Common  at  Smith's  Island,  Va.,  where  we  got  three  on 
May  15,  1894,  but  they  had  not  begun  to  breed  by  the  26th 
when  we  left "  (C.  W.  Richmond). 

Order  TUBINARES— TUBE-NOSED  SWIMMERS. 

Family  PROCELLARIID^E — Shearwaters  and  Petrels. 

Puffinus  major  (89).     Greater  Shearwater. 

"Atlantic  coast  generally.  A  rare  straggler  to  the  New 
Jersey  coast "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  49). 

Puffinus  auduboni  (92).     Audubon's  Shearwater. 

Atlantic  coast  from  New  Jersey  southward,  breeds  in  the 
Bermudas  and  Bahamas  (A.  O.  U.). 

Puffinus  Strickland!  (94).     Sooty  Shearwater. 

North  Atlantic,  south  to  the  Carolinas,  breeding  far  north. 
No  doubt  all  three  occur  off  our  ocean  front,  but  as  there  are 
no  observers  there,  their  presence  with  that  of  other  of  our 
ocean  birds  has  not  been  recorded. 

Oceanodroma  leucorhoa  (106).     Leach's  Petrel. 

On  June  11,  1895,  while  fishing  on  Little  Gull  Bank,  about 
three  miles  out  from  Ocean  City,  a  pair  of  these  birds  came  and 
circled  round  our  boat  for  a  few  minutes.  I  have  also  noted 
them  further  out,  off  our  Maryland  coast,  on  several  occasions 
during  the  month  of  August,  when  they  followed  the  vessel 
generally  in  company  with  Wilson's  Petrel. 

Occasionally  heavy  easterly  gales  drive  them  inland ;  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  "one  of  several  shot  in  August,  1842,  is 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  257 

now  in  the  National  Museum,  also  another  taken  near  the  Navy 
Yard  Bridge,  on  June  5,  1891,  by  Wm.  Bayley.  Wm.  Palmer 
has  two ;  one  was  shot  from  a  bunch  of  three  or  four  on  August 
29,  1893,  the  other  was  captured  alive  in  a  house  on  Capitol 
Hill  a  few  days  later"  (Richmond). 

Oceanites  oceanicus  (109).     Wilson's  Petrel. 

I  have  been  greatly  interested  in  watching  these  birds  as  they 
flew  round  the  vessel,  on  several  sea  trips  I  have  made.  Under 
date  of  August  20,  1884,  I  find  the  following:  "Cleared  the 
capes  last  night  at  11.30  P.  M.,  and  this  morning  we  have  the 
petrels,  which  stay  with  us  all  day,  the  Maryland  shore  being 
in  sight.  One  is  partly  albino,  having  a  white  breast,  belly 
and  back,  separated  from  the  usual  white  by  a  sooty  line." 

The  only  inland  record  I  can  find  is  "  one  taken  many  years 
ago  and  presented  to  the  Smithsonian"  (A.  C.,  110).  "This 
was  shot  on  the  Potomac  River  about  1859"  (Richmond). 

Order  STEGANOPODES— TOTIPALMATE  SWIMMERS. 

Family  SULID^E — Gannets. 
Sula  bassana  (117).     Gannet 

Occasionally  taken  on  the  Chesapeake,  three  specimens  so 
recorded  have  been  presented  to  the  Maryland  Academy  of 
Sciences,  where  two  of  them  are  at  present,  the  other,  now  in  the 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  taken  many  years  ago  at  Chester- 
town,  was  presented  by  Mr.  Colin  Stam(sen  ?)  through  Mr.  J.  J. 
Thomsen.  On  April  21, 1894,  one  was  taken  in  Rock  Hall  Cove 
and  forwarded  alive  to  the  Academy  by  Dr.  A.  P.  Sharp.  Mr. 
John  Murdock  presented  a  mounted  specimen  on  June  6,  1892, 
referring  to  which  he  writes  me :  "  The  bird  I  presented  to  the 
Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences  was  killed  a  short  time  previ- 
ously in  the  lower  part  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  near  Mobjack 
Bay ;  I  have  never  seen  them  above  that  point ;  generally  they 
go  in  pairs." 


258  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

"I  found  the  remains  of  one  on  Smith's  Island,  Va.,  in 
May,  1894.  It  had  been  dead  about  a  month,  possibly  more" 
(Richmond). 

Family  ANHINGID^E — Darters. 
Anhinga  anhinga  (118).     Anhmga. 

In  the  old  collection  of  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences 
was  a  mounted  specimen  of  the  Anhinga,  which  Prof.  Uhler 
says,  came  from  the  Pocomoke  River,  but  owing  to  the  vicissi- 
tudes through  which  the  Academy  has  passed,  I  have  been  unable 
to  find  the  record  of  its  acquisition. 

Family  PHALACROCORACID.E — Cormorants. 
Phalacrocorax  carbo  (119).     Cormorant. 

Audubon  says,  "it  is  rarely  seen  further  south  than  the 
extreme  limits  of  Maryland,  but  from  Chesapeake  Bay  east- 
ward it  becomes  more  plentiful"  (vii,  418).  A  specimen  may 
occasionally  visit  us  with  the  following  species,  as  it  goes 
casually  south  as  far  as  the  Carolinas  (A.  O.  U.). 

Phalacrocorax  dilophus  (120).     Double-crested  Cormorant. 

Regular,  but  not  a  common  winter  visitant  near  Baltimore. 
Further  down  the  Chesapeake,  and  on  Chincoteague  and  Sine- 
puxentBays,  it  is  more  numerous.  Under  date  of  April  13,  1893, 
Mr.  Wm.  S.Walker,  of  Chestertown,  writes  me :  "  The  only  Cor- 
morant I  ever  had  in  hand,  I  killed  some  five  or  six  years  ago 
at  Hail  Creek,  at  the  mouth  of  Chester  River.  I  have  since 
that  time  seen  one  or  more  of  the  birds  sitting  on  buoys  in  the 
bay  between  here  and  Baltimore."  The  specimen  mentioned  was 
in  the  old  collection  of  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences. 

At  Ocean  City  single  birds  flew  northward  on  June  8  and 
10,  '94. 

"One  was  detected  in  the  District  of  Columbia  many  years 
ago"  (A.  C.,  108).  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Duvall  sent  a  specimen  from 
Annapolis  to  the  Smithsonian  (Smith.  Rep.,  '72,  57). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  259 

Family  PELECANID^ — Pelicans. 
Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos  (125).  American  White  Pelican. 

Rare  straggler.  "There  appear  to  be  three  well  authenti- 
cated instances  of  the  capture  of  this  bird  in  our  vicinity. 
1.  Near  Alexandria,  Va.,  April,  1864,  by  C.  Drexler,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Smithsonian.  2.  Opposite  Washington,  on  the 
Virginia  bank  of  the  Potomac,  fall  of  1864 ;  shot  by  John 
Ferguson,  and  seen  and  identified  by  several  persons  who  have 
communicated  the  fact  to  us.  3.  Near  Alexandria,  Va.,  Octo- 
ber, 1878,  killed  by  John  Haxhurst,  and  seen  by  a  gentleman 
connected  with  the  National  Museum  "  (H.  M.  Smith  and  Wm. 
Palmer,  Auk,  v,  147).  "A  stray  Pelican  at  Oakland,  Md.,  by 
Sportsman,"  is  recorded  (Auk,  iv,  345). 

Pelecanus  fuscus  (126).     Brown  Pelican. 

Exclusively  maritime,  "  from  Tropical  America  to  the  Caro- 
linas  "  (A.  O.  U.).  Captain  Crumb  noted  them  at  Cobb's  Island, 
in  the  fall  of  1881  (Birds  Vas.,  44),  and  "Turnbull  records  one 
specimen  shot  off  Sandy  Hook  in  1837,  in  summer "  (Birds 
E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  52).  In  the  old  collection  of  the  Academy 
was  a  specimen  from  the  lower  Potomac  (Uhler). 

Order  ANSERES — LAMELLIROSTBAL  SWIMMERS. 

Family  ANATID^: — Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans. 
Merganser  americanus  (129).     American  Merganser. 

This,  the  largest  of  the  "  fishermen/7  is  a  winter  resident, 
from  Sept.  29,  ('94),  to  March  29,  ('93  Resler) ;  common  on 
our  larger  waters. 

On  March  24  ('95)  I  watched  a  bunch  of  eight  for  quite  a 
while  on  the  Gunpowder  Falls ;  they  were  diving  in  the  swift 
running  stream,  just  above  the  dead  water  of  Loch  Raven. 
Mr.  Shriver  says,  "something  of  a  rarity  at  Cumberland,  but 
I  have  seen  a  number  of  them  years  ago ;  none  lately." 

"  In  the  ornothological  report  of  the  late  Judge  Libhart,  pub- 
lished about  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago  in  the  history  of  Lan- 


260  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

caster  county,  the  Goosander,  also  the  Red-breasted  and  Hooded 
Mergansers  are  all  mentioned  as  breeding  in  Lancaster  County." 
(Birds  Pa.  32). 

Merganser  serrator  (130).     Eed-breasted  Merganser. 

From  the  number  brought  to  market,  this  is  the  most  com- 
mon "  fisherman "  shot  on  the  Chesapeake  and  its  tributaries 
during  the  gunning  season.  Possibly  it  also  stays  here  to  breed, 
as  Mr.  W.  N.  Wholey  shot  a  female  on  July  8,  1892,  at  Egging 
Beach  Island,  near  Ocean  City.  It  was  in  good  condition  and 
not  crippled  in  any  way,  but  the  breast  feathers  were  so  few 
and  so  worn  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  its  having  nested. 
Two  others  flushed  at  the  shot  but  were  not  secured.  Loch 
Raven  (Chas.  E.  Dukehart). 

Lophodytes  cucullatus  (131).     Hooded  Merganser. 

Common  on  the  arms  of  the  Chesapeake  during  gunning  sea- 
son ;  this  species  is  also  to  be  found  generally  dispersed  over  the 
state,  even  on  small  waters.  Several  flocks  were  seen  on  the 
Potomac,  about  two  miles  below  Knoxville,  on  November  5 
('93,  Fisher).  Loch  Raven  (Dukehart). 

It  probably  breeds,  for  on  June  7  ('94)  I  noted  one  at  Whit- 
tington's  Point,  near  Ocean  City,  and  Dr.  Warren  says :  "  I  have 
an  adult  female,  taken  June  23,  1890,  in  Chester  Co.,  Pa., 
where  this  Merganser  is  seldom  seen  in  summer"  (Birds  Pa., 
345). 

Anas  boschas  (132).     Mallard. 

Common  winter  resident,  from  October  7  ('93)  to  April  14 
('94,  Fisher).  Mr.  W.  S.  Walker,  of  Chestertown,  says :  "the 
first  ducks  to  arrive  here  are  the  'flat  fowl/  that  is  those  feed- 
ing on  the  flats  of  the  Bay  shore,  they  are  Black  Ducks,  Mal- 
lards, Graybacks  and  Sprigtails."  A  number  have  been  shot 
on  Loch  Raven  (Dukehart),  and  on  November  4  ('93,  Fisher) 
they  were  very  numerous  on  the  Potomac  between  Knox- 
ville and  Brunswick.  Under  "  County  news,"  on  April  13, 
1894,  the  /Sun  paper  says:  "Gunners  in  Alleghany  county 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  261 

are  having  a  fine  time,  as  the  streams  are  covered  with  Mal- 
lards." On  April  5,  1895,  a  pair  were  shot  at  Cumberland 
(Zacharia  Laney). 

Anas  obscura  (133).     Black  Duck. 

Common  in  tidewater  Maryland  during  the  gunning  season, 
quite  a  number  remain  during  summer  and  breed.  Numerous 
in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore  from  August  28  ('93,  Fisher),  to  May 
6  ('93,  Gray).  I  observed  this  species  in  1894,  at  Ocean  City,  as 
follows :  On  June  5  a  pair ;  on  the  6th  a  pair ;  on  the  7th 
3,  2,  3,  1,  3,  and  also  a  pair  with  small  young  on  Chin- 
cateague  Bay  about  two  miles  from  shore,  where  it  was  so 
rough  I  could  not  count  the  young.  On  the  10th  my  man  at 
last  succeeded  in  finding  a  nest,  but  it  only  held  the  two  half 
shells  of  an  egg,  one  inside  the  other. 

At  Loch  Raven,  on  April  7,  ('95),  I  watched  20  birds 
for  some  time,  they  were  feeding  in  shallow  water  like  tame 
ducks,  and  while  they  kept  in  a  close  bunch,  were  mated,  each 
pair  distinctly  keeping  together. 

Anas  strepera  (135).     Gadwall. 

While  a  few  no  doubt  winter  with  us,  the  species  seems  to  be 
fairly  numerous  in  November,  and  again  in; April;  though  it  is 
rather  difficult  to  get  statistics,  our  market  gunners  classing  this 
and  the  females  of  three  or  four  other  species  as  "  gray  ducks," 
and  our  amateurs  as  "trash  ducks."  On  November  22-3, 
1894,  about  20  were  shot  at  Spry's  Island.  At  Washington, 
D.  C.,  they  are  given  as  common  from  September  to  April 
(Richmond). 

From  the  /Sun  I  take  the  following:  " Williamsport,  Md. 
April  9,  1895.  Wild  ducks  are  plentiful  along  the  Poto- 
mac, above  this  place.  From  the  old  Sharpless  warehouse  up 
to  Big  Pool,  flocks  of  Gray  Mallards  abound.  These,  the 
sportsmen  say,  are  rare,  and  it  is  unusual  to  see  so  many  of 
them  along  the  river." 


262  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Anas  penelope  (136).     Widgeon. 

This  Old  World  species  is  given  as  "rare  or  casual  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  of  North  America"  (Key,  694). 

Several  specimens  have  been  taken  within  our  state.  One 
found  in  market,  at  Washington  by  Mr.  C.  Drexler,  in  the 
spring  of  1863,  shot  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  is  now  in  the  Na- 
tional Museum  (A.  C.,  103-4).  On  &a$  11,  1890,  an  adult 
male  was  found  in  Washington  Market,  New  York.  It  "had 
been  shipped  from  Baltimore  and  doubtless  was  shot  on  the 
Chesapeake  Bay,"  and  is  now  in  the  American  Museum  of  Nat- 
ural History,  N.  Y.  (Edgar  A.  Mearns,  Auk.  vii/,  204).  "On 
the  property  of  the  Carroll's  Island  Club,  Baltimore  County, 
Mr.  Wm.  Carpenter,  on  February  25,  1890,  killed  one  of  this 
species  from  a  bunch  of  Baldpates.  This  bird  has  been  mounted 
and  is  at  present  in  my  care"  (L.  S.  Foster,  Auk,  viii,  283). 

At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences, 
held  April  5,  1880,  Mr.  Arthur  Resler  referred  to  a  specimen 
of  the  European  Baldpate  which  he  had  examined  at  the  taxi- 
dermist store  of  A.  Wolle,  where  it  had  been  sent  to  be  mount- 
ed. It  was  shot  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Maryland  (Minutes 
of  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences,  1880,  280). 

Dr.  Wm.  H.  Poplar  has  a  specimen  in  his  house  at  Havre- 
de-Grace.  He  told  me  that  he  shot  that  « Red-headed  Baldpate" 
in  November,  1881,  and  considered  it  a  cross  between  a  Red- 
head and  a  Baldpate. 

Anas  americana  (137).     Baldpate. 

Common  during  winter,  this  species,  as  with  nearly  all  of 
our  ducks,  is  most  numerous  during  fall  and  spring  nights. 

On  September  23  ('93,  Fisher)  several  bunches  were  noted  at 
Sparrows'  Point,  and  the  last  Baldpate  was  shot  at  Grace's 
Quarter  on  April  8  ('86,  Ducking  Record). 

Inland,  a  male  was  taken  in  October  '88,  at  Ridgley's  Dam  in 
Dulaney's  Valley  (Fisher).  On  November  4,  '93,  several  bunches 
were  on  the  Potomac,  near  Brunswick  (Fisher),  and  it  has  been 
taken  at  Cumberland  (Shriver). 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  263 

On  October  3,  '89,  I  witnessed  a  remarkable  instance  of  the 
well-known  sailing  power  of  a  dead  duck,  if  shot  in  the  heart 
with  its  wings  spread.  Fishing  near  Maxwell's  Point,  my  atten- 
tion was  taken  by  several  shots  on  Saltpeter  Creek,  and  looking  in 
that  direction  I  noticed  a  duck  coming  down  the  wind,  which  was 
blowing  fresh  from  a  few  points  N.  of  W.  As  it  got  closer  I 
noticed  it  was  sailing,  wings  and  neck  at  full  stretch;  when  first 
seen  it  was  well  up  and  over  the  land,  but  gradually  descending, 
it  struck  the  water  with  a  splash  about  one-quarter  mile  from 
our  boat  and  near  the  centre  of  the  river,  or  about  two-and-a- 
half  miles  from  where  it  was  shot,  the  neck  being  about  a  mile 
across  and  Gunpowder  River  about  three  miles  wide  at  this 
point. 

Anas  crecca  (138).     European  Teal. 

One  shot  on  the  Potomac  River,  near  Washington,  in  April, 
'  1 888,  was  presented  to  the  National  Museum  (Auk,  iii,   139). 
It  was  an   "  adult  male,  shot  by  Henry  Marshall,  of  Laurel, 
Md."  (Smith.  Report,  '86,  154)." 

Anas  carolinensis  (139).     Green-winged  Teal. 

Common  during  spring  and  fall  migrations,  a  number  stay 
in  tidewater  Maryland  during  mild  winters.  It  is  not  so  nu- 
merous as  the  following  species ,  with  which  it  arrives  and 
departs.  Mr.  W.  S.  Walker,  of  Chestertown,  writes  me: 
u  Among  the  last  to  leave  Chester  River  is  the  Teal,  or  Partridge 
Duck,  a  little  brown  duck/' 

Anas  discors  (140).     Blue-winged  Teal. 

Usually  seen  with,  or  in  the  same  places  as  the  last  men- 
tioned, and  during  the  same  time  of  year.  A  bunch  of  15 
were  noted  in  Bear  Creek,  on  August  20  ('93,  Fisher).  The 
latest  date  is  May  7  ('90,  Resler),  when  one  was  taken  on 
Patapsco  Marsh. 

On  September  17,  '93,  I  saw  a  bunch  of  10  on  Loch  Raven, 
in  Dulaney's  Valley.  They  were  standing  at  edge  of  water, 


264  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

and  allowed  me  to  walk  up  opposite  them.  After  observing 
them  through  a  field  glass  for  some  time,  I  flushed  them  with  a 
stone  and  they  flew  up  stream  a  short  distance.  Following 
them  in  full  view,  I  again  got  opposite  and  sat  down,  they  ap- 
peared quite  tame,  and  although  my  dogs  paddled  round  in  the 
water  near  them,  they  did  not  fly  until  I  again  threw  a  stone 
among  them ;  evidently  they  had  just  arrived  from  the  north 
and  were  tired  out. 

At  Hagerstown,  during  April  ('80,  Small),  and  at  Cumber- 
land (Shriver). 

Spatula  clypeata   (142).     Shoveler. 

Quite  a  number  of  "  Broadbills  "  are  shot  during  our  gun- 
ning season,  but  they  cannot  be  said  to  be  common.  I  have  no 
characteristic  dates.  A  pair  were  taken  at  Gunpowder  River, 
on  March  27,  ('95,  Resler).  Not  uncommon  at  Washington 
during  winter  (Richmond) ;  at  Cumberland  (Shriver). 

Dafila  acuta  (143).     Pintail. 

Common  during  fall  and  spring  flights,  I  believe  some  stay 
with  us  during  mild  winters.  Mr.  N.  S.  Bogle,  of  Eastern 
Neck  Island,  writes  me,  that  aa  flock  of  15  Sprigtails  arrived 
in  Chester  River,  on  September  13  ('9 3),  these  were  the  first 
ducks."  They  are  noted  from  that  on  to  October  28  ('93). 
On  March  4  ('94,  Fisher),  about  20  were  in  a  bunch  on  Bird 
River,  and  several  were  taken  on  Choptank  River  on  April  7 
('94).  Loch  Raven  (Dukehart). 

Aix  sponsa  (144).     Wood  Duck. 

Sparingly  resident,  this  species  is  numerous  in  spring  and  fall. 
While  usually  seen  "  down  the  necks,"  single  birds  or  pairs  are 
often  flushed  from  pools  on  very  small  runs,  the  principal 
attraction  apparently  being  oak  woods.  Some  years  ago,  in 
May,  on  Hog  Creek,  a  female  and  eight  young  were  observed 
(Fisher),  and  Mr.  P.  A.  Bowen,  writing  from  Aquasco,  Prince 
George's  County  says,  "  resident,  there  are  now  in  this  neigh- 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  265 

borhood  three  birds,   hatched  in   confinement  from  eggs  taken 
from  a  hollow  tree." 

Resident  but  not  common,  at  Washington  (Richmond); 
Hagerstown  (Small)  ;  Cumberland  (Shriver). 

Aythya  americana  (146).     Kedhead. 

Common  during  winter  in  tidewater  Maryland.  They  arrive 
earlier,  but  the  first  date  I  have  is  October  3  (789),  when  an 
enormous  number  of  ducks  were  " bedded"  on  Gunpowder 
River,  below  MaxwelPs  Point,  quite  a  large  number  of  them 
being  Redheads.  As  late  as  May  2  ('95,  Tylor),  about  150 
were  on  Gunpowder,  near  Magnolia,  in  five  or  six  small  bunches. 
Inland,  they  are  numerously  recorded.  About  10  years  ago  500 
or  600  stopped  for  a  few  days  on  Lake  Roland  (Fisher) ;  on 
March  29  (?91),  several  small  bunches  were  on  Loch  Raven 
(Wholey),  and  a  number  have  been  taken  in  Dulaney's  Valley 
(Dukehurt).  On  November  4  (93),  a  few  were  on  the  Potomac 
near  Knoxville  (Fisher),  and  they  are  given  as  occasional  at 
Cumberland  (Shriver). 

Aythya  vallisneria  (147).     Canvasback. 

Still  a  common  winter  resident  of  tidewater  Maryland,  though 
most  numerous  during  fall  and  spring  flights. 

On  October  3,  1889,  quite  a  large  number  where  with  the 
Redheads,  Blackheads,  etc.,  bedded  on  Gunpowder  River,  and 
they  have  been  taken  at  Grace's  Quarter  from  October  21 
('80)  to  April  4  ('86,  Ducking  Record),  but  no  doubt  some 
remain  later. 

Aythya  marila  nearctica  (148).     American  Scaup  Duck. 

Common  on  the  Chesapeake  and  its  numerous  arms  during 
winter.  On  October  3,  1889,  a  number  were  with  the  other 
ducks  on  Gunpowder  River,  and  on  March  25,  1894, 1  watched 
a  most  affectionate  pair,  male  and  female,  for  some  time  at 
Cedar  Point.  It  also  occurs  inland,  about  200  were  on  Lake 
Roland  October  29  ('92,  Fisher).  Dr.  Owings,  of  Ellicott 


266  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

City,  shot  one  on  his  ice-pond  in  November,  1893.  Loch 
Raven  (Dukehart);  Harpers  Ferry,  a  bunch  of  six,  November 
6  ('93,  Fisher) ;  Cumberland  (Shriver). 

Aythya  affinis  (149).     Lesser  Scaup  Duck. 

Arriving  and  departing  with  the  former  species,  this  is  much 
the  more  numerous,  and  both  with  the  following,  are  generally 
classed  together  by  gunners.  At  Grace's  Quarter,  "  Blackheads  " 
are  recorded  as  being  shot  from  October  3  ('89)  to  April  8  ('86) 
and,  as  with  all  other  ducks,  the  "  Blackheads"  are  most  numerous 
during  the  fall  and  spring  nights.  On  April  2  ('90,  Richmond) 
one  was  taken  near  Washington.  On  April  5  ('95)  one  was 
taken  at  Cumberland  (Zacharia  Laney). 

Aythya  collaris  (150).     Ring-necked  Duck. 

Not  very  numerous.  I  presume  it  arrives  with  the  other 
"Blackheads."  All  the  notes  I  have  range  between  March  8 
('94),  when  one  was  shot  at  Bush  River  by  Mr.  Melville  Wilson, 
who  called  it  a  "Creek  Blackhead,"  and  April  4  ('91,  Wholey), 
when  one  was  shot  in  the  open  river  below  Fort  McHenry. 

Glaucionetta  clangula  americana  (151).     American  Golden- 
eye. 

Common  in  tidewater  Maryland,  from  October  to  April,  I 
have  not  any  extreme  dates.  Mr.  Dukehart  has  frequently  shot 
them  at  Loch  Raven  and  they  have  been  taken  at  Hagerstown 
on  December  28,  1879,  and  April  15,  1883  (Small). 

Glaucionetta  islandica  (152).     Barrow's  Golden-eye. 

This  northern  species  coming  south  in  winter  to  New  York, 
has  in  one  recorded  instance  straggled  as  far  south  as  Maryland. 
"A  female  shot  on  the  Potomac  River,  opposite  Washington, 
Nov.  22,  1889,  by  C.  Herbert,  is  now  in  the  collection  of 
J.  D.  Figgens"  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  viii,  112). 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  267 

Charitonetta  albeola  (153).     Bufflehead. 

Common  in  winter,  arriving  the  latter  part  of  September, 
one  was  at  Patapsco  marsh  on  May  7  ('90,  Resler). 

On  February  15, 1895,  just  after  the  blizzard,  one  came  up  the 
harbor  into  the  upper  basin  and  stayed  round  off  Bowley's 
wharf  for  a  long  time.  Inland,  it  has  been  taken  at  Sandy 
Springs  in  April  (Stabler);  a  pair  were  seen  near  Harper's  Fer- 
ry on  October  10  ('93  Fisher),  and  they  have  been  shot  at  Cum- 
berland (Shriver). 

Clangula  hyemalis  (154).     Old  Squaw. 

Common  in  winter  on  the  Chesapeake  ;  I  noted  one  at  Fort 
McHenry  on  October  27,  ('94),  and  they  remain  with  us  until 
late  in  April.  On  March  4,  1895,  there  were  several  hundred 
in  the  mouth  of  Chester  River  on  broad  water,  nearly  all  in  pairs, 
but  occasionally  a  few  males  were  in  a  bunch  by  themselves.  As 
the  steamboat  was  running  before  a  terrific  snow  squall,  we  got 
quite  close  before  they  flushed.  Often  they  dived  and  on 
coming  up  appeared  to  be  flying  before  they  emerged.  On  the 
6th  it  was  blowing  a  gentle  breeze,  and  although  they  were  ex- 
tremely numerous,  we  did  not  get  close  to  any. 

Loch  Raven  (Dukehart). 

Camptolaimus  labradorius  (156).     Labrador  Duck. 

Now  extinct,  they  were  apparently  quite  numerous  in  Au- 
dubon's  time,  for  he  says  (vi,  329):  "The  range  of  this  species 
along  the  shores  does  not  extend  further  southward  than  Ches- 
apeake Bay,  where  I  have  seen  some  near  the  influx  of  the  St. 
James  River.  I  havealso  met  with  several  in  the  Baltimore 
market." 

Somateria  dresseri  (160).     American  Eider. 

"Winters  southward  to  Delaware"  (Chapman,  117).  "In 
the  old  collection  of  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences  was  a 
specimen  from  Maryland,  collected  at  Pamunkey  Neck,  below 
Marshall  Hall,  by  Mr.  Chapman"  (P.  R.  Uhler). 


268  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Somateria  spectabilis  (162).     King  Eider. 

"  South  casually  to  New  Jersey,  in  winter"  (Manual,  110). 
A  young  bird  of  this  species  was  obtained  at  Cobb's  Island,  Va., 
by  Captain  C.  H.  Crumb,  on  December  19, 1899"  (Birds  Vas., 

48). 

Oidemia  americana  (163).     American  Scoter. 

Common  during  fall  and  spring  flights,  on  ocean  front  and 
broad  waters  of  tidewater  Maryland,  a  few  may  winter.  On 
November  4,  ('94)  four  spent  the  evening  in  the  basin,  and  on  No- 
vember 17  ('77),  Major  Hill  presented  a  specimen  in  the  flesh  to 
the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences.  On  March  8  ('94),  one  was 
in  Saltpeter  Creek,  and  they  were  numerous  on  open  water. 
Late  in  April,  and  early  in  June  they  are  reported  as  being 
fairly  numerous  at  Havre  de  Grace. 

During  Christmas  week  ('90)  they  were  fairly  common  at 
Eastville,  Northampton  County,  Va.  (Ridgley  Duvall,  Jr.). 

Oidemia  deglandi  (165).     White-winged  Scoter. 

Fairly  common  on  the  Chesapeake  during  spring  and  fall, 
this  species  may  winter  with  us.  On  September  12  ('94),  four 
were  noted  in  Chester  River  by  Mr.  E.  Speddin  of  the  tug- 
boat Chicago,  and  on  November  6  ('94),  a  pair  were  shot  down 
the  Necks,  which  I  saw  in  market  the  next  day. 

On  March  6  ('93),  I  saw  three  in  a  bunch  off  Love  Point 
lighthouse,  at  the  mouth  of  Chester  River,  they  did  not  flush 
until  the  steamboat  was  close  to  them,  in  marked  contrast  to  the 
South  Southerlies;  on  May  12  ('94,  Fisher),  3  were  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Patapsco. 

Oidemia  perspicillata  (166).     Surf  Scoter. 

Arriving  and  departing  with  the  others,  I  can  give  no  char- 
acteristic dates.  The  three  being  as  a  rule  classed  as  "tar-pots" 
or  "bay  muscoveys"  and  not  being  considered  good  for  anything 
are  seldom  shot. 


1895]  MAEYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  269 

"Common  winter  resident  off  the  New  Jersey  coast  from 
October  to  late  in  April.  Apparently  the  most  abundant  spe- 
cies of  Scoter"  (Birds  E.  P.  and  N.  J.,  59). 

Erismatura  rubida  (167).     Buddy  Duck. 

Common  during  spring  and  fall.  I  have  no  winter  dates, 
though  possibly  it  remains  with  us.  A  bunch  of  4  or  5  was 
seen  in  Baltimore  harbor  close  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
pier,  at  the  foot  of  Caroline  street,  early  in  the  morning  of  Sep- 
tember 25  ('94)  by  Mr.  E.  Speddin,  of  the  tugboat  Chicago, 
and  they  were  numerous  until  November  14  ('94,  Patapsco 
Marsh).  On  March  8  ('94),  between  two  and  three  hundred 
were  bedded  off  Grace's  Quarter,  and  on  June  9  ('94),  a  bunch 
of  six  were  still  off  Ocean  City. 

Fairly  common  on  fresh  water,  this  species  has  been  taken  as 
follows :  On  October  29,  '92,  two  at  Lake  Roland  (Fisher), 
and  three  from  a  bunch  of  five  at  Powhatan  Dam  (Gray).  Sev- 
eral have  been  shot  at  Loch  Raven  (Dukehart),  and  on  No- 
vember 5,  '93,  a  pair  were  on  the  Potomac  near  Knoxville 
(Fisher). 

Chen  hyperborea  nivialis  (169a).     Greater  Snow  Goose. 

"Along  the  Atlantic  coast  it  may  be  considered  rare"  (Birds 
N.  W.,  549).  On  April  26,  '80,  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Cecil  Co., 
presented  a  specimen  to  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences  ;  at 
Legoe's  Point  one  was  noted  on  March  10,  '90,  and  early  in 
October,  '90,  two  flew  over  the  bridge  at  Sparrows'  Point, 
about  40  feet  up  (Fisher). 

Anser  albifrons  gambeli  (171o).     American  White-fronted 

Goose. 

Rare  straggler.  One  shot  on  the  Potomac  in  1856  was 
bought  in  the  Washington  market  for  the  Smithsonian  (Smith. 
Rept.,  '56,  68). 

On  Nov.  12,  '92,  a  young  male  was  shot  at  Grace's  Quarter, 
Baltimore  County,  by  Mr.  Charles  D.  Fisher,  and  by  him  pre- 


270  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

sented  to  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences.     It  was  flying 
alone  and  came  in  to  decoy's  answering  the  usual  goose  call. 

Branta  canadensis  (172).     Canada  Goose. 

Common  winter  resident.  On  October  4  ('94),  four  were 
seen  sitting  on  a  log  at  Spry's  Island,  by  George  B.  Fowler, 
and  on  the  20th  ('94),  they  were  "  exceedingly  numerous  in 
Day's  Hollow  on  Gunpowder  River;  when  they  flew  up  it 
sounded  like  thunder ;  a  few  days  later  they  had  all  left " 
(Edw.  A.  Robinson).  They  remain  with  us  during  winter  in 
rather  more  limited  numbers,  and  are  again  numerous  in  early 
spring,  the  latest  record  being  April  10  ('90,  Resler). 

Inland,  they  are  liable  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  state 
during  spring  and  fall  flights.  On  November  5  and  6  ('93, 
Fisher),  quite  a  number  were  on  the  Potomac  between  Knox- 
ville  and  Brunswick,  and  on  April  15,  16  and  17,  ('83,  Small), 
the  reservoir  at  Hagerstown  "  fairly  swarmed  with  them." 

In  New  Jersey  "some  linger  as  late  as  May  12"  (Birds  E. 
Pa.  and  N.  J.,  60). 

Branta  canadensis  hutchinsii  (172a).     Hutchin's  Goose. 

"  South  in  winter  through  United  States,  chiefly  west  of  the 
Alleghanies"  (Manual,  117).  "A  goose,  from  its  small  dimen- 
sions and  16  tail  feathers  apparently  referable  to  this  sub-spe- 
cies, was  taken  at  Cobb's  Island,  in  the  winter  of  1888-89 
by  Capt.  Crumb  "  (Birds  Yas.,  p.  49). 

Branta  bernicla  (173).     Brant. 

Arriving  and  departing  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  com- 
mon goose,  this  species  is  not  so  abundant.  Most  numerous 
during  spring  and  fall  migrations,  quite  a  number  as  a  rule 
winter  with  us,  but  I  have  no  characteristic  dates. 

Branta  nigricans  (174).     Black  Brant. 

"Very  rarely  straggling  to  the  Atlantic  coast"  (Manual, 
118),  this  species  has  been  taken  on  the  New  Jersey  coast  (Birds 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  271 

E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  60)  and  "  Capt.  Crumb  informs  me  that  it  is 
usual  for  one  or  two  to  be  obtained  at  Cobb's  Island  nearly  every 
winter77  (Birds  Vas.,  49). 

Olor   columbianus  (180).     Whistling  Swan. 

Common  winter  resident  on  the  broad  waters  of  tidewater 
Maryland,  and  during  spring  and  fall  flights  liable  to  be  seen 
anywhere  in  the  state.  On  September  26  (793),  one  was  shot  on 
the  Potomac  near  Weverton,  by  John  Leopold.  On  November 
4  ('93,  Fisher),  several  bunches  were  at  the  same  place,  while 
on  April  15,  16  and  17,  (783),  two  were  on  the  reservoir  at 
Hagerstown  (Small). 

While  swans  are  more  or  less  difficult  to  shoot,  they  often 
"  bed "  on  broad  water  out  of  range  in  large  numbers.  On 
January  20,  '94,  I  counted  82  standing  on  ice  at  the  mouth  of 
Gunpowder  Kiver,  and  a  week  later  194  on  the  water  at  the  same 
place,  where  I  am  told  they  at  times  appear  in  greater  numbers. 

Olor  buccinator  (181).     Trumpeter  Swan. 

Casual  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  "In  TurnbulPs  list  (Birds 
E.  Pa.)  this  species  is  included  on  the  authority  of  reliable 
sportsmen  who  have  shot  it  on  the  Chesapeake  Bay  "  (Birds  N. 
W.,  545). 

In  the  Oologist,  Vol.  vi,  15-16,  is  quite  an  interesting  arti- 
cle on  the  taking  of  one  from  a  bunch  of  12  or  15  on  Slaughter 
Beach  Marsh,  Del.,  by  Mr.  G.  L.  Stevens,  of  Lincoln,  Del., 
on  November  9  ('89),  at  which  time  they  were  flying  southward. 

Order  HERODIONES.— HERONS,  STORKS,  IBISES,  ETC. 

Family  IBIDID^ — Ibises. 
Guara  alba  (184).     White  Ibis. 

Regularly  north  to  the  Carolinas  in  summer  and  casually  to 
Long  Island;  two  have  been  recorded  from  New  Jersey  and  one 
from  Pennsylvania  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  61). 


272  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Plegadis  autumnalis  (186).   Glossy  Ibis. 

"  Warmer  parts  of  the  Eastern  Hemisphere,  also  more  south- 
ern portions  of  the  Eastern  United  States"  (Manual,  124).  "At 
very  irregular  periods  in  the  spring,  small  flocks  have  been  seen 
on  the  coast  of  the  Middle  States,  and  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia,"  and  one  taken  near  Baltimore,  and 
two  in  the  District  of  Columbia  in  1817  are  mentioned  (Water 
Birds  of  N.  A.,  i,  95-6). 

Family  CICONIID^E — Storks. 
Tantalus  loculator  (188).  Wood  Ibis. 

Regularly  "north  to  the  Carolinas,  casually  to  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey"  (Key,  653).  " The  late  Judge  Libhart,  in 
his  ornithological  report  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  says  :  "I  ob- 
tained a  fine  specimen  of  this  species  shot  from  a  troop  of  10, 
by  Mr.  M,  Ely,  on  the  Susquehanna,  in  July  1862,"  and  "Dr. 
A.  C.  Treichler,  of  Elizabethtown,  has  specimens  in  his  collec- 
tion which  were  shot  in  Lancaster  Co.  in  the  early  part  of  July, 
1883,  shortlyafter  severe  storms"  (Birds  Pa.,  53).  "On  July2 
1893,  Mr.  Fred.  Zoller  brought  me  2  females,  adult  and  young  ; 
they  were  killed  on  the  flats  a  short  distance  from  the  Washing- 
ton monument,  and  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac"  (E. 
M.  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  x,  92).  Two  were  taken  near  Bloomery, 
Hampshire  Co.,  W.  Va.,  by  Dr.  A.  Wall  (American  Field, 
xxii,  82). 

Mr.  Robert  Shriver,  of  Cumberland,  writes  me  :  "About  30 
years  ago  I  shot  a  Wood  Ibis.  This  was  the  only  specimen  I 
ever  saw ;  it  was  first  seen  by  myself  near  the  Potomac  River 
bank,  but  before  it  was  captured  a  dozen  hunters  were  after  it 
and  it  evaded  them  for  several  days.  I  always  valued  this 
specimen  highly  and  am  sorry  it  has  gone  'the  way  of  all  flesh/  r' 

On  October  15,  1893,  Mr.  Jacob  F.  Saylor  described  a  bird 
to  me  taken  during  "wheat  harvest"  at  the  bend  of  the  Gun- 
powder Falls  in  Dulaney's  Valley,  Baltimore  Co.;  from  his  de- 
scription, and  later  corroboration  by  Mr.  Dukehart,  I  am  satis- 
fied it  can  be  no  other  than  this  species. 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  273 

Family  AKDEIDVE — Bitterns  and  Herons. 
Botaurus  lentiginosus  (190).     American  Bittern. 

Fairly  common  during  spring  and  fall,  a  few  spend  the 
summer  with  us  and  possibly  breed.  It  may  also  stay  over 
winter  during  mild  seasons.  From  March  25  ('93,  Gray)  they 
are  numerously  noted  until  May  5  ('93,  Resler),  and  in  fall 
from  September  1  ('91,  Tylor),  when  one  was  taken  at  Tuck- 
ahoe  Creek  until  October  10  ('94),  when  one  was  caught  alive 
by  Mr.  Jacob  Kirkwood  early  in  the  morning  in  front  of  No. 
103  Elliott  street  in  Baltimore  City.  This  he  kindly  kept  in  a 
box  until  I  examined  it.  It  was  an  ordinary  sized  dark 
plumaged  male. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Tylor  supplies  me  with  the  following  items: 
"Between  the  20th  and  30th  of  August,  1891,  I  killed  a  male 
Bittern  in  the"  Adkin's  woods,  one  mile  south  of  Easton,  and 
mounted  same.  On  the  first  day  of  September,  1891,  Dr.  E. 
R.  Trippe,  of  Easton,  in  company  with  A.  G.  Pascault,  of  the 
same  town,  shot  a  male  Bittern  in  Tuckahoe  Creek,  five  miles 
below  Hillsboro;  this  I  also  mounted.  On  July  14,  1894,  on 
Hog  Creek,  Gunpowder  River,  I  flushed  one  from  the  marsh, 
but  did  not  secure  it." 

"  Mr.  William  H.  Buller,  residing  at  Marietta,  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  in  a  letter  dated  July  29,  1889,  addressed  to  me, 
writes  as  follows  :  ( I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  American 
Bittern  breeds  in  the  vicinity  of  Schock's  Mills,  a  few  miles 
west  of  Marietta;  while  I  have  never  found' its  nest,  or  seen  its 
young,  yet  I  have  so  frequently  seen  the  bird  in  that  vicinity 
during  the  summer,  that  I  think  it  probable  that  it  breeds 
there'"  (Birds  Pa.,  55). 

Dr.  Coues,  speaking  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  says : 
"  Resident  and  rather  common"  (A.  C.,  100),  and  "  I  have  pro- 
cured it  in  January  at  Washington "  (Birds  N.  W.  529). 
"  Rather  common  from  August  to  April  at  Washington " 
(Richmond). 


274  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Ardella  exilis  (191).     Least  Bittern. 

Common  during  summer,  this  little  bird  is  seldom  seen  except 
by  those  who  look  for  it,  and  owing  to  the  marshes  in  which  it 
lives,  not  always  to  be  found  by  those  who  do. 

On  May  12  ('94,  Wholey),  six  were  noted  in  Patapsco 
Marsh,  but  that  they  are  here  earlier  is  shown  by  nests  contain- 
ing 5,  3  and  1  eggs,  respectively,  which  were  noted  at  the  same 
place  on  May  17  ('93,  A.  Wolle),  and  in  the  last  week  of  Sep- 
tember, 1894,  one  was  brought  to  A.  Wolle,  who  kept  it  alive 
for  some  time  in  his  shop  window.  The  latest  date  for  eggs  is 
July  8  ('92),  when  four  nearly  fresh  were  collected  at  Sparrow's 
Point.  It  also  possibly  occurs  more  or  less  regularly  on  inland 
swamps.  In  May,  1893,  one  was  caught  alive  in  Dulaney's 
Valley  by  Mr.  Dukehart. 

Ardea  herodias  (194).     Great  Blue  Heron. 

Between  March  30  (?93,  Gray)  and  November  19  ('90,  Resler) 
this  species  is  noted  with  more  or  less  regularity,  but  so  far  I 
have  been  unable  to  find  a  "heronry"  in  Maryland. 

In  winter  it  has  been  observed  at  Back  River  on  December 
7  and  21  ('92,  Resler).  Noted  at  Hagerstown  (Small),  and 
Cumberland  (Shriver). 

Ardea  egretta  (196).     American  Egret. 

Irregular  during  late  summer  and  early  fall,  this  species  has 
been  noted  from  July  5  ('82),  when  one  was  at  Gunpowder 
Falls  a  short  distance  below  the  Belair  Road,  to  September  1 
('93  A.  Wolle),  when  one  was  at  Gunpowder  Marsh ;  on  September 
23  ('94,  Tylor)  two  were  at  Ocean  City. 

In  Dulaney's  Valley,  one  out  of  a  flock  of  9  was  shot  by  Mr. 
Thos.  Peerse  in  front  of  his  house,  and  another  was  taken  by 
Mr.  Dukehart  in  the  fall  of  1893. 

Possibly  some  may  nest  in  Maryland,  as  "Mr.  Wm.  Palmer 
has  known  this  species  to  nest  in  Arlington  Cemetery,  Va." 
(C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  v,  19),  and  "up  to  1877  they  bred 


1895]  MAKYIAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  275 

near  Townsend's  Inlet,  N.  J.  (Scott,  B.  N.  O.  C.,  79),  and 
a  few  may  still  breed  in  the  state"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N. 
J.,  63). 

Ardea  candidissima  (197).     Snowy  Heron. 

Not  as  numerous  as  its  larger  relative,  it  probably  visits  us  about 
the  same  time  of  year.  On  August  3  ('89,  Resler),  one  of  6  was 
shot  at  Middle  River,  and  on  August  7  ('80,  Resler),  another  at 
Back  River.  On  August  10  ('88,  Tylor),  one  at  Choptank 
River,  and  later  in  same  month  another  near  Greensboro.  On 
August  25  (793),  one  near  Marlboro,  by  Richard  Cantler.  At 
Washington  it  is  given  as  "not  uncommon  about  the  marshes  of 
the  Potomac  towards  the  end  of  summer  and  early  fall "  (A.  C.^ 
98).  In  1886  they  were  breeding  at  Seven  Mile  Beach,  N.  J.  (H. 
G.  Parker,  O.  and  O.,  iii,  138). 

Ardea  tricolor  ruficollis  (199).     Louisiana  Heron. 

"  Warmer  portions  of  Eastern  North  America ;  north,  casually 
to  New  Jersey"  (Manual,  131).  "Turnbull  states  that  it  has 
occasionally  been  taken  on  the  New  Jersey  coast,  but  we  can  find 
no  records  of  recent  captures  "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  64). 
"  I  have  in  my  possession  a  skin  of  an  immature  bird  taken  sev- 
eral years  ago  at  Cobb's  Island,  and  understand  from  Captain 
Crumb  that  he  has  heard  of  2  others  that  have  been  seen  or 
taken  "  (Birds  Vas.,  50). 

"  A  printed  record  (I  cannot  give  reference)  says  one  was 
preserved  in  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences  that  was  shot 
in  Maryland  "  (Richmond),  Mr.  Uhler  has  very  distinct  recol- 
lections of  the  reception  of  this  specimen,  but  cannot  recall 
particulars;  it  occurred  in  1868  or  '69. 

Ardea  coerulea  (200).     Little  Blue  Heron. 

Rare  straggler  from  the  south ;  I  know  of  but  one  specimen 
taken  near  Baltimore,  this  was  shot  at  Day's  Marsh,  on  October 
7,  1892  (Fisher).  Others  no  doubt  have  been  taken  and  possi- 
bly some  in  the  white  plumage  have  been  noted  under  Snowy 


276  TRANSACTIONS    OF    THE  [1895 

Heron.  At  Washington,  it  is  given  as  "  rare  and  only  casual 
towards  the  end  of  summer  "  (A.  C.,  99),  and  "although  usually 
rare,  it  is  sometimes  extremely  abundant,  a  flock  of  about  150 
frequenting  the  shores  of  the  Potomac  during  August  1875" 
(P.  L.  Jouy,  Field  and  Forest,  iii,  51). 

Ardea  virescens  (201).     Green  Heron. 

Common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last  of  March,  a  nest 
ready  for  eggs  was  found  April  15  (?91),  and  as  late  as  Octo- 
ber 12  ('89,  Resler),  one  was  taken  at  Back  River.  I  have  found 
eggs  in  the  nest  from  April  22  ('81),  to  June  12  ('94);  sets  are 
4  of  3,  13  of  4,  and  8  of  5.  On  several  occasions,  in  different 
parts  of  the  state,  I  have  come  across  "  heronries  "  of  this  species 
the  number  of  nests  ranging  from  6  to  17,  but  single  nests  may 
be  found  scattered  everywhere,  usually  near  marshy  land,  or 
water. 

Nycticorax  nycticorax  nasvius  (202).     Black-crowned 
Night  Heron. 

Locally  common,  otherwise  rare,  from  April  1  ('93,  Gray) 
to  October  17  ('94,  Resler).  Only  a  few  miles  from  Baltimore 
city  a  colony  has  nested  for  several  years  of  which  Mr.  G.  H. 
Gray,  supplied  the  following  :  "More  than  6  years  ago  infor- 
mation of  the  approximate  breeding  site  was  received.  It  was 
not  until  April  16,  1892,  however,  that  it  was  found,  when 
about  30  nests  were  in  various  stages  of  completeness.  They 
were  in  slender  black  oaks,  near  the  top,  and  about  50  feet  from 
the  ground.  On  April  30  the  majority  contained  eggs.  2 
had  5;  3  had  4,  10  or  12  had  3  ;  the  others  2  or  1.  On  June 
24,  many  of  the  young  were  perched  about  the  limbs  of  the  nest 
trees  while  others  were  still  on  the  nests.  On  March  25,  1893, 
none  had  arrived,  but  on  April  1,  seven  were  seen.  On  May  6, 
nests  with  eggs  were  found  in  a  clump  of  small  scrub  pines  ad- 
joining the  oaks,  which  they  had  vacated.  A  few  days  previous 
to  our  visit  a  severe  wind  storm  had  shaken  these  pines  and  the 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  277 

ground  was  strewn  with  broken  egg  shells.  One  nest  however, 
had  5  eggs  and  they  ranged  down  to  1  or  more;  while  2  nests 
were  not  yet  completed.  I  measured  the  height  of  1 1  nests  and 
found  they  ranged  from  36  to  49  feet  from  the  ground.  On 
June  9  they  were  nearly  all  back  in  the  oaks  occupying  the 
old  nests  where  they  had  birds  just  hatched,  the  few  in  the  pines 
containing  birds  10  or  12  days  old.  Among  the  oaks  the  shells 
of  three  eggs  were  found  under  30  nests,  the  other  6  had  1  or 
2,  but  possibly  a  few  eggs  were  not  yet  hatched.  The  night  of 
July  30  was  spent  in  this  heronry,  but  as  the  moon  set  early 
nothing  could  be  seen.  Each  nest  however,  seemed  to  be  visited 
by  the  parents  about  once  every  hour  and  the  noise  the  young 
made  was  something  wonderful. 

"Owing  to  changes  they  did  not  nest  here  in  1894,  but  they 
were  found  in  1895  located  about  a  mile  off,  as  the  crow  flies, 
again  in  black  oaks,  the  nests  being  from  42  to  48  feet  up.  On 
May  5  a  few  nests  showed  eggs,  4  and  5  being  noted,  while  on 
May  11,  3  were  noted  with  4  fresh,  one  with  4  nearly  fresh; 
one  with  6  nearly  hatched,  one  with  4  young  and  a  rotten  egg, 
one  with  3  and  another  with  one  fresh  egg." 

"  Wm.  Palmer  has  known  this  species  to  nest  in  Arlington 
Cemetery"  (C.  W.  Kichmond,  Auk,  v,  20).  "  Occasional  in 
winter  "  (Richmond). 

Nycticorax  vialaceus  (203).     Yellow-crowned  Night  Heron. 

A  few  have  been  taken  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
where  it  is  regarded  as  a  "very  rare  straggler  from  the  south" 
(Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  65). 

"  Rare  summer  visitant  in  the  coast  region  ;  I  have  examined 
a  young  bird  that  was  taken  at  Cobb's  Island,  and  think  that 
another  bird  has  been  taken  there"  (Birds  Vas.,  51). 

Order  PALUDICOL^.— CRANES,  RAILS,  ETC. 

Family  GRUID^E — Cranes. 
Grus  mexicana  (206).     Sandhill  Crane. 
"Rare  or  irregular   in  the  east  "  (Key,   667).     "A  specimen 
of  this  bird  has  been  procured  in  the  District  of  Columbia.    We 


278  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

doubt,  however,  that  the  bird  has  been  seen  here  alive  for  the 
past  quarter  of  a  century,  and  it  might  properly  be  retired  from 
the  active  list"  (A.  C.,  100). 

Family  RALLID^E — Rails,  Gallinules  and  Coots. 
Rallus  elegans  (208).     King  Bail. 

Fairly  common  summer  resident  of  our  fresh  and  brackish 
marshes.  At  Patapsco  Marsh  they  have  been  taken  from  May 
17  ('93)  to  October  6  ('76,  Resler),  while  on  October  13  ('94) 
I  saw  a  small  box  of  mixed  game  from  Cumberland  opened, 
among  others  it  contained  one  King  Rail. 

At  To! Chester,  on  May  30  ('91,  Fisher),  a  nest  containing  6 
fresh  eggs  was  found,  and  on  June  15  ('91,  Fisher),  another 
with  10  fresh  eggs  at  the  some  place. 

Possibly  some  may  winter  during  open  seasons ;  vide — "  Two 
King  Sora  were  brought  to  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  on  Saturday 
(Jan.  28,  '93),  by  Mr.  Geo.  Newton,  of  Stafford,  and  presented 
to  Capt.  M.  B.  Rowe.  The  appearance  of  these  birds  at  this 
season  is  said  to  be  quite  remarkable,  as  they  generally  leave  on 
the  first  appearance  of  frost "  ( Va.  item  in  the  Sun  paper). 
Stafford  is  about  6  miles  from  the  Potomac.  In  January,  1 895; 
Mr.  Scoggins  received  two  King  Rail  "  from  the  Rappahannock." 


Rallus  longirostris  crepitans  (211,).     Clapper  Rail. 

Possibly  resident  in  southern  Maryland  except  when  driven 
out  by  severe  frost;  this  species,  where  not  persecuted  by 
pot  hunters  is  fairly  numerous  on  salt  water  marshes  during 
summer.  On  May  17  ('93),  3  were  shot  on  Patapsco  Marsh, 
one,  a  female,  contained  a  large  number  of  eggs  in  the  ovary, 
some  quite  large,  and  one  in  the  ovaduct  already  spotted  and 
ready  for  extrusion.  Noted  at  Hagerstown  in  October,  >79 
(Small). 

Rallus  virginianus  (212).     Virginia  Rail. 

Common  during  migration,  a  few  remain  during  summer.  On 
July  8  ('92,  Wholey)  a  specimen  was  taken  at  Sandy  Point,  near 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  279 

Ocean  City,  and  at  Washington  it  has  been  "  seen  during  the 
breeding  season  and  undoubtedly  breeds"  (C.  W.  Richmond, 
Auk,  v,  20). 

Mr.  Stone's  remarks  apply  equally  well  to  Maryland,  he  says: 
"Summer  resident  in  fresh  marshes,  bogs  and  swamps  along 
the  coast,  though  apparently  not  in  the  true  salt  marshes  except 
in  migrations  not  very  abundant  inland,  but  rather  plen- 
tiful along  the  New  Jersey  coast ;  arrives  May  1st  and  remains 
until  October  25,  or  occasionally  later"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N. 
J.,  66). 

On  March  20,  '95,  in  market  I  saw  one  with  a  bunch  of 
Wilson's  Snipe;  they  were  perfectly  fresh  and  may  have  been 
shot  near  Baltimore,  but  I  could  not  ascertain  locality. 

Porzana  Carolina  (214).     Sora. 

While  this  species  migrates  north  regularly  in  spring,  it  is 
seldom  noted,  as  the  gunners  are  not  then  on  the  marshes,  but 
during  August,  September  and  October,  they  are  slaughtered  by 
thousands  on  the  marshes  of  tidewater  Maryland. 

On  August  25  ('94,  Fisher)  they  were  abundant  on  Day's 
Marsh,  they  remain  so  until  the  first  frost;  this  of  course 
makes  their  going  further  south  a  variable  date.  Other  dates 
are  few,  so  they  are  given  in  full.  On  November  18  ('90, 
Fisher)  one  was  shot  in  Somerset  County.  Single  birds  were  taken 
on  December  26  ('90)  and  January  22  ('95),  at  the  mud  hole 
back  of  "  Sonny  "  Barranger's  in  Canton,  by  Mr.  Jas.  Holton, 
and  on  April  3  (793)  one  was  shot  in  a  marsh  a  short  distance 
north  of  Chincoteague  Island,  and  consequently  near  the  south- 
ern Maryland  line,  by  Dr.  R.  H.  P.  Ellis,  of  Baltimore  city. 

On  July  25,  '93,  four  birds  were  flushed  from  a  small  piece 
of  cattail,  by  Mr.  Geo.  Todd,  close  to  his  house  on  North 
Point.  This  seems  to  point  to  their  possible  breeding  here  in 
limited  numbers.  It  is  given  as  breeding  in  Chester  and  Lancas- 
ter Counties,  Pa.  (Birds  Pa.,  71),  and  at  Washington  it  has  been 
"seen  during  the  breeding  season  and  undoubtedly  breeds"  (C. 
W.  Richmond,  Auk,  v,  20).  Under  date  of  May  25,  '95,  Mr. 


280  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Richmond  says :  "  I  doubt  very  much  now  whether  it  ever  breeds 
here,  but  it  is  common  in  August.  Birds  have  been  shot  here, 
one  on  November  8,  '78,  by  Peter  Burger,  one  on  November 
9,  '78,  by  S.  F.  Baird,  and  one  in  March,  '75." 

Inland,  several  were  shot  during  the  fall  of  '93,  in  Dulaney's 
Valley  (Dukehart);  at  Hagerstown,  in  October, '79,  and  Septem- 
ber, '80  (Small);  at  "  Cumberland  during  all  of  April  (not  seen 
after  May  1,  as  shooting  stopped  then),  and  from  August  to 
October  15,  '94"  (Zacharia  Laney). 

Porzana  noveboracensis  (215).     Yellow  Rail. 

"  Eastern  North  America,  not  abundant,  very  secretive"  (Key, 
674),  and  as  the  bird  is  small  it  is  no  wonder  it  is  not  often  seen; 
possibly  it  may  yet  be  found  to  breed  with  us.  On  April  27,  '93, 
one  was  shot  on  Patapsco  Marsh  by  Richard  Can  tier,  this  I  saw. 
Oa  May  18,  '89,  at  Hog  Creek  Marsh,  Harford  County,  one  was 
flushed  twice  but  not  secured,  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher,  and  on 
October  20,  '94,  one  was  presented  to  me  in  the  flesh ;  it  was 
received  with  a  mixed  lot  of  birds,  in  a  box  sent  from  Back 
River  Neck  by  a  market  gunner. 

"In  the  collection  of  the  National  Museum  are  two  Yellow 
Rails,  both  of  which  were  taken  on  the  marshes  of  the  Potomac 
River  near  Washington,  the  first  by  T.  E.  Clark,  October  4,  '79, 
the  second  by  A.  S.  Skinner,  March  28,  '84"  (H.  M.  Smith  and 
Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  v,  147). 

Porzana  jamaicensis  (216).     Black  Rail. 

"Not  often  found  in  the  United  States,  being  one  of  our 
rarest  birds"  (Key,  p.  674).  One  secured  at  Piscataway, 
Maryland,  was  presented  to  the  Smithsonian  Institute  by  John 
Dowell,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  (Smith.  Report,  '84,  145).  "One 
seen  in  the  District  of  Columbia  during  September,  '61,  but  not 
secured.  One  taken  2  or  3  years  ago  is  now  in  the  Smithso- 
nian "  (A.  C.,  101).  Several  are  recorded  from  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey,  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  67). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  281 

lonornis  martinica  (218).     Purple  Gallinule. 

"  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  resident,  north  casually  to 
New  England "  (Key,  676).  Capt.  Crumb  has  one  mounted 
that  came  ashore  on  Cobb's  Island  during  a  storm  in  May  '91, 
and  was  captured  in  the  light  house  yard  (Letter  to  W.  H. 
Fisher).  It  has  also  been  taken  in  York  County,  Pa.  (Birds  Pa., 
P.  73). 

"One  was  seen  in  Centre  market  (Washington,  D.  C.) 
on  August  24,  '89  by  Geo.  Marshall.  I  visited  the  market, 
(Golden7 s  stand)  to  see  about  it.  The  man  in  charge  remem- 
bered the  '  purple  bird/  but  thought  it  had  been  sold,  he  said  it 
came  from  'down  the  Potomac  somewhere '"  (Richmond). 

Gallinula  galeata  (219).     Florida  Gallinule. 

Possibly  a  regular,  though  rare,  migrant.  At  Stemmer's  Run, 
Baltimore  Co.,  one  was  taken  on  May  8,  ('89,  Resler).  At 
Wasington,  "on  April  19,  '92,  Mr.  Fred  Zeller  brought  me  a 
Florida  Gallinule;  while  the  species  has  been  taken  here  before, 
this  is  the  first  specimen  existing  in  collections.  A  few  days 
later,  about  the  22d,  Mr.  J.  D.  Figgins  secured  a  specimen  from 
Frederick,  Md.,  and  on  August  12,  '92,  Mr.  Zeller  brought  me 
a  young  male"  (E.  M.  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  x,  92). 

"  Regular  transient,  but  not  very  common,  most  of  the  spec- 
imens secured  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  have  been  taken 
on  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna  Rivers.  Occurs  May  1-10, 
and  September  8  to  October  20  "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  68). 

Fulica  americana  (221).     American  Coot. 

Common  migrant,  noted  from  March  14  ('93,  Fisher),  at  Gun- 
powder Marsh,  to  May  7  (?93),  when  a  bunch  of  5  were  on  the 
broad  water  of  Chester  River,  and  again  from  September  20 
('79,  Resler),  at  Back  River,  to  November  3  ('91,  Resler),  at 
Patapsco  Marsh. 

A  number  have  been  shot  at  Loch  Raven  (Dukehart).  At 
Hagerstown,  on  April  16,  '83,  there  was  a  remarkable  flight  of 


282  TRANSACTIONS  OF   THE  [1895 

these  birds,  hundreds  being  killed;  they  were  also  noted  during 
September  and  October,  '79,  and  October,  '81  (Small). 

Order  LIMICOUE — SHORE  BIRDS. 

Family  PHAL AROPODID^E — Phalaropes . 

Crymophilus  fulicarius  (222).     Bed  Phalarope. 

"A  species  of  circumpolar  distribution  during  summer" 
(Key,  614).  « South  in  winter  to  Middle  States"  (Manual, 
144).  "A  young  bird  taken  on  the  Eastern  Branch  of  the 
Potomac  near  Washington,  D.  C.,  by  Mr.  F.  S.  Webster,  on 
October  17,  '85,  is  now  in  the  National  Museum"  (Smith. 
Report,  '87,  603). 

Phalaropus  lobatus  (223).     Northern  Phalarope. 

Circumpolar,  like  the  last  species,  but  coming  much  further 
south  in  winter.  Under  date  of  May  28,  '95,  Mr.  C.  W.  Rich- 
mond writes  me  from  Washington,  "one  was  taken  here  in 
September,  '91,  by  Mr.  Thomas  Marron  off  Navy  Yard  bridge; 
the  specimen  is  now  in  the  National  Museum." 

Family  RECURVIROSTRID^: — Stilts. 
Himantopus  mexicanus  (226).     Black-necked  Stilt. 

Uncommon  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Florida  to  Maine ;  now 
rare,  it  may  yet  occur  on  the  ocean  front  of  Maryland.  "  For- 
merly it  bred  regularly  in  Cape  May  County,  N.  J.,  and  on 
Egg  Island,  Delaware  Bay  (Turnbull,  '69).  We  know  of  no 
recent  captures  of  this  species  "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.?  70). 

Family  SCOLOPACID^E — Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc. 

Scolopax  rusticola  (227).     European  Woodcock. 

Straggling  from  Europe,  this  species  has  been  taken  quite 
close  to  Maryland,  but  as  far  as  I  know  not  within  the  state. 
"In  the  early  part  of  November,  '86,  Mr.  D.  N.  McFarland, 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  283 

of  West  Chester,  Pa.,  killed  a  large  female  in  the  ' barrens'  of 
East  Nottingham  Township,  Chester  County,  Pa."  (Birds  Pa., 
78),  and  Dr.  Coues  reports  one  being  shot  in  Loudoun  County, 
Ya.,  in  '73  (Forest  and  Stream,  vi,  180). 

Philohela  minor  (228).     American  Woodcock. 

Resident,  except  when  frozen  out,  and  fairly  common  in  spite 
of  the  June  and  July  gunners  who  slaughter  many  birds  before 
they  are  much  more  than  half  grown,  and  leave  others  still 
younger  parentless. 

Nesting  dates  range  from  March  30  (780),  when  four  slightly 
incubated  eggs  were  found  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Amoss  near  Falls- 
town,  Harford  County,  to  July  4  ('93),  when  a  nest,  also  with 
four  eggs,  was  found  (all  sets  I  know  of  are  four). 

At  Cumberland,  where  they  are  not  found  in  winter,  the  first 
was  shot  on  March  28,  some  years  ago,  and  the  last  on 
December  12,  '94  (Zacharia  Laney). 

Gallinago  delicata  (230).     Wilson's  Snipe. 

Common  during  migrations.  On  February  24,  '95, 1  flushed 
one  from  a  warm  spring  in  Dulaney's  Valley,  and  on  March  9 
('95,  Henninghouse)  they  were  numerous  at  Gunpowder  Marsh, 
where  they  were  still  numerous  on  April  22  ('92,  Pleasants), 
the  last  spring  date  being  April  29  ('94),  in  Dulaney's  Valley, 
though  at  Washington  they  are  noted  until  May  5  (Richmond). 

In  the  fall  I  have  them  noted  from  September  20  ('93),  at 
Patapsco  Marsh,  to  December  11  ('94),  Bush  River.  There  is 
every  possibility  that  more  or  less  remain  with  us  during  mild 
winters. 

The  following  note  on  this  species  breeding  in  Maryland  is 
taken  from  Lewis'  American  Sportsman,  (1885  edition,  p. 
244).  "In  the  month  of  May,  1846,  while  wandering  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  E.  Lewis  over  his  extensive  estate  in  Maryland, 
we  sprang  a  Wilson's  Snipe  from  the  midst  of  an  oat  field,  and 
being  surprised  as  well  as  attracted  by  its  singular  manoeuvres, 


284  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

we  made  search  for  its  nest  which  we  soon  found  with  four 
eggs  in  it.  The  situation  selected  for  incubation  could  not 
have  been  better  chose,n  in  any  portion  of  the  country,  as  it  was 
on  a  rising  piece  of  ground,  with  a  southern  exposure,  protected 
in  the  rear  by  a  large  wood,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  high  ground 
was  a  considerable  extent  of  low  marsh  meadow  watered  by  a 
never-failing  stream,  along  the  border  of  which  the  anxious 
parent  at  any  time  could  obtain  a  bountiful  supply  of  food." 

Mr.  Zacharia  Laney,  of  Cumberland,  informs  me  that  he  has 
taken  this  species  from  February  28  to  the  last  of  the 
gunning  season,  April  30  ;  how  much  later  they  stay  he  does  not 
know,  but  some  years  ago  while  exercising  a  pair  of  young  dogs 
in  June,  they  flushed  a  pair  from  a  marshy  slew. 

Macrorhamphus  griseus  (231).     Dowitcher. 

Common  during  migration  in  tidewater  Maryland  during 
April  and  May,  and  from  early  in  August  to  the  first  touch  of 
cold  weather;  a  specimen  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  A  Resler  was 
taken  at  Back  River  as  early  as  March  6  ('75).  Inland,  Mr. 
Dukehart  has  secured  a  number  in  both  spring  and  fall  in  Du- 
laney's  Valley. 

Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus  (232).     Long-billed 
Dowitcher. 

Of  this  western  species  "seven  were  killed  from  a  flock  on 
the  Anacostia  River,  D.  C.,  in  April,  1884,  by  a  gunner  who 
sold  them  in  the  market  for  Jack  Snipe.  One  similar  to  the 
others  was  secured  and  mounted  by  one  of  the  writers  and  has 
been  identified  by  Mr.  Ridgway  as  the  western  species" 
(Hugh  M.  Smith  and  Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  v,  147). 

Micropalama  himantopus  (233).     Stilt  Sandpiper. 

.Casual  migrant  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  one  was  "  taken  on  the 
Patuxent  River,  Md., September  8/85,  by  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw. 
This  capture  was  made  beyond  the  regular  District  of  Columbia 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  285 

boundary,  but  was,  however,  included  in  what  has  been    tacitly  , 
regarded  as  its  faunal  and  floral  limit"  (Hugh  M.  Smith,  Auk, 

Hi,  139). 

Tringa  canutus  (234).     Knot. 

Common  migrant,  given  on  the  New  Jersey  coast  from  May 
15  to  June  1,  and  from  August  15  to  September  15  (Birds 
E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  73).  On  Cobb's  Island  19  were  shot  on 
May  20  ('91,  Fisher),  and  from  May  14  to  28  ('94),  they  were 
"  quite  numerous  occurring  in  large  flocks.  On  May  25  hun- 
dreds of  these  birds  were  seen  feeding  along  the  extensive  mud 
flats  on  the  outer  sea  beach"  (E.  J.  Brown,  Auk,  xi,  259). 

On  August  19,  '93,  quite  a  number  were  shot  a  few  miles 
south  of  Ocean  City  on  the  beach  (Janon  Fisher). 

Tringa  maculata  (239).     Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

"  United  States  chiefly  during  migrations,  when  observed  in 
wet  grassy  meadows,  muddy  ponds,  flats,  etc."  (Key,  626).  "Rare 
in  spring,  not  uncommon  from  September  25  to  November" 
(A.  C.,  96.) 

Near  Washington,  "  on  April  22,  '88,  two  were  shot  by  W.  F. 
Roberts;  several  were  taken  on  August  3  (about  '89);  at  St. 
George's  Island,  Md.,  several  were  seen  on  September  3  and  11, 
'94;  and  one  was  shot  October  22,  '60  "  (Richmond). 

"  Regular  migrant  on  the  New  Jersey  coast  in  April,  and  from 
the  middle  of  August  to  the  first  of  October ;  occasional  in  the 
interior  "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  73). 

Tringa  fuscicollis  (240).     White-rumped  Sandpiper. 

"  Transient  on  the  New  Jersey  coast,  but  not  very  common, 
associating  with  the  Least  Sandpiper,  and  arriving  and  departing 
with  it "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  73). 

aE.  J.  Brown  has  two  or  three  skins  taken  in  May,  between 
the  15th  and  24th,  '94,  at  Smith's  Island,  Ya,"  (Richmond). 


286  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1885 

Tringa  bairdii  (241).     Baird's  Sandpiper. 

Migrant,  "  rare  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  common  in  the  interior  " 
(Key,  626).  «  One  was  shot  by  R.  S.  Matthews,  near  Four  Mile 
Run,  Va.,  on  September  3,  '94,  and  Wm.  Palmer  shot  a  second 
specimen  on  September  25, '94,  at  the  same  place  "  (Richmond). 

Tringa  minutilla  (242).     Least  Sandpiper. 

Common  migrant  all  through  May,  and  again  from  August 
2  ('9 2),  [in  New  Jersey,  Stone  says  July  15]  to  November  3 
('94),  when  four  were  shot  at  Back  River.  Numerous  along 
the  shores  of  tidewater  Maryland,  bunches  of  "Peeps  "  may  be 
found  along  all  our  rivers,  streams,  runs,  ice  ponds,  etc.,  where- 
ever  there  is  wet  mud. 

Tringa  alpina  pacifica  (243a).     Bed-backed  Sandpiper. 

Common  during  migrations  in  tidewater  Maryland ;  this 
species  has  also  been  noted  on  our  larger  inland  waters ;  possibly 
some  remain  during  mild  winters  in  southern  Maryland.  On 
September  3  ('93),  one  was  at  Loch  Raven,  and  on  the  17th, 
two.  On  March  13  ('92,  Wholey)  four  were  at  Waverley, 
while  on  May  24  ('93),  I  shot  two  out  of  a  bunch  of  four  on 
Hail  Point,  Kent  County,  at  the  mouth  of  Chester  River. 

Ereunetes  pusillus  (246).     Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 

Common  during  migrations,  but  not  as  numerous  as  T.  minu- 
tilla, with  flocks  of  which  it  is  generally  found,  arriving  and 
departing  at  the  same  time. 

Near  Washington,  D.  C.,  recorded  from  August  13  ('94)  to 
October  26  ('87),  and  again  in  May  (Richmond). 

Ereunetes  occidentalis  (247).     Western  Sandpiper. 

"During  the  last  week  of  August,  1885,  I  found  the 
western  bird  quite  as  common  as  the  eastern  at  Piney  Point,  St. 
Mary's  County,  Md.,  on  the  Potomac  River.  If  anything,  the 
former  was  the  most  numerous,  for,  of  the  18  specimens  of 


1895] 


MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  287 


Ereunetes  preserved,  14  were  identified  by  Mr.  Ridgway  as  occi- 
dentales,  and  these  too  were  taken  at  random  from  a  lot  of 
about  25  dead  birds"  (Hugh  M.  Smith,  Auk,  xi,  385).  Several 
were  shot  at  Virginia  Beach,  on  September  6  and  7,  1884,  by 
Messrs.  Henry  Seebohm  and  C.  W.  Beckham  (Auk,  xi,  101). 
Two  have  been  taken  in  New  Jersey:  one  on  September  14,  '80, 
the  other  on  May  17,  '92  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  75). 

Calidris  arenaria  (248).     Sanderling. 

Abundant  coastwise  during  migrations;  several  were  seen 
and  one  shot  at  Cobb's  Island  on  May  20  ('91,  Fisher),  and  one 
was  taken  at  Ocean  City  on  September  23  ('94,  Tylor). 

"Near  Washington  one  was  taken  on  September  23,  '94,  by 
Wm.  Palmer ;  another  in  '74,  and  one  on  October  24,  '85,  at 
Gravelly  Run  "  (Richmond). 

"  Abundant  transient  on  the  New  Jersey  coast,  keeping  pretty 
much  to  the  beach,  April  18  to  June  1,  September  14  to  October 
15.  Some  also  are  said  to  remain  through  the  winter.  Dr.  W. 
L.  Abbott  secured  one  specimen  in  the  spring  migration  as  late 
as  June  13.  Occasional  on  the  lower  Delaware"  (Birds  E. 
Pa.  and  N.  J.,  75). 

Limosa  fedoa  (249).     Marbled  Godwit. 

This  species  "does  not  appear  to  go  far  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  northward"  (Key,  635).  Rather  rare  transient  on  the 
New  Jersey  coast,  where  it  seems  to  have  been  more  plentiful 
formerly;  occurs  in  May,  and  again  from  the  last  week  of  July 
to  September  15.  Dr.  Warren  states  that  a  few  have  been 
captured  in  recent  years  in  Lancaster,  Philadelphia  and  Dela- 
ware Counties"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  75). 

Limosa  hsemastica  (251).     Hudsonian  Godwit. 

"Much  less  abundant  in  the  United  States  than  the  preceding, 
and  appears  to  range  chiefly  along  the  Atlantic  coast"  (Birds  N. 
W.,  494).  "On  May  16,  '86,  I  shot  a  Hudsonian  Godwit  at 


288  TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE  [1895 

West  River,  Md.,  in  a  grass  field  adjoining  the  village  of  Hales- 
ville"  (J.  Murray  Ellzey,  Forrest  and  Stream,  xxvii.,  264).     . 

Tetanus  melanoleucus  (254).     Greater  Yellow-legs. 

Common  migrant,  but  not  so  numerous  as  the  following  spe- 
cies. On  March  26  ('75,  Resler)  one  was  taken  at  Patapsco 
Marsh,  and  on  June  7  ('94)  one  at  Ocean  City.  In  fall,  Mr. 
Stone  gives  them  as  early  as  July  15  in  New  Jersey  (Birds  E.  Pa. 
and  N.  J.),  and  Mr.  Richmond  at  Washington  from  July  25, 
but  my  earliest  note  is  a  flock  of  35  in  Dulaney's  Valley  on 
August  12  ('94),  while  as  late  as  November  4  ('93),  I  received 
one  from  Patapsco  Neck  (probably  shot  about  the  2nd  or  3rd), 
and  another  from  Cumberland,  also  probably  shot  at  the  same 
time. 

Totanus  flavipes  (255).     Yellow-legs. 

More  numerous  than  the  former,  in  the  spring  from  March 
15  ('95),  at  Havre  de  Grace,  to  May  17  ('93,  Wholey),  at 
Patapsco  Marsh,  and  again  from  August  12  ('94),  at  Loch  Ra- 
ven, to  September  5  ('93,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.),  at  Spring  Gardens. 
At  Washington,  September  11  ('94,  Wm.  Palmer  and  R.  S. 
Matthews). 

Totanus  solitarius  (256).     Solitary  Sandpiper. 

A  regular  but  not  abundant  migrant,  generally  found  singly 
or  in  pairs  in  spring,  and  in  small  flocks  in  fall.  Noted  from 
April  25  to  May  30  ('91,  Gray),  and  from  August  13  ('93, 
Gray)  to  October  12  ('89,  Resler). 

This  species  is  a  rare  summer  resident,  though  its  nest  has 
not  yet  been  recorded  in  Maryland.  On  July  14,  '93,  one  was 
in  company  with  a  Killdeer  in  the  bed  of  Gwynn's  Falls,  at  Cal- 
verton  (Gray  and  Blogg). 

"Occasionally  one  is  seen  during  the  breeding  season"  at 
Sandy  Springs  (Stabler).  "  In  Maryland  and  Virginia.  .  .  . 
I  have  shot  birds  in  August  so  young  as  to  leave  no  doubt  in 
my  mind  that  they  were  bred  in  the  vicinity"  (Birds  N.  W., 
499). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  289 

At  Washington,  D.  C.,  it  is  recorded  as  follows:  "April  26 
('91)  one  seen,  May  16  ('88)  one  seen,  July  20  ('90)  one  noted, 
July  28  ('89),  two  seen,  August  8  (94,  Wm.  Palmer)  one  seen, 
August  11  ('89)  one  seen,  and  on  August  21  ('94  E.  J.  Brown), 
several  seen  and  shot"  (Richmond). 

"Dr.  Treichler,  of  Lancaster  County  (Pa.),  mentions  it  as  an 
irregular  breeder ;  he  has  found  young  about  half  grown  in  the 
Conowingo  meadows  early  in  July"  (Birds  Pa.,  91). 

On  May  23,  '93,  I  came  across  one  feeding  in  an  ice  pond 
with  but  little  water  ;  I  was  within  20  feet  and  watched  it 
through  a  field  glass.  It  waded  with  a  dainty  step,  sometimes 
having  perceptibly  to  pull  its  feet  out  of  the  mud,  and  once 
when  it  got  in  deeper  water  swam  a  few  feet  with  a  hurried 
stroke.  Small  insects  on  or  in  the  water,  on  bottom,  on  weed 
stems  or  on  bank  it  swallowed  at  once.  Tiny  tadpoles  it  worked  a 
second  between  mandibles  and  dipped  a  couple  of  times  in  water, 
apparently  to  get  them  head  first.  One  large  one  it  immediately 
ran  ashore  with  and  hammered  it  on  the  ground  for  some 
little  time  before  swallowing  it.  In  wading  it  sometimes  had 
the  water  up  to  its  breast  and  belly.  Generally  not  more  than 
the  bill  was  immersed,  but  often  the  head,  occasionally  the  neck, 
and  once  half  of  the  body. 

Symphemia  semipalmata  (258).     Willet. 

While  not  as  numerous  as  it  used  to  be,  this  species  is  not 
uncommon  on  our  ocean  front,  where  it  still  breeds  in  limited 
numbers.  At  Chincoteague  Bay,  I  noted  one  on  June  5  ('94); 
another  on  the  next  day,  and  three  on  the  7th  at  the  same  place ; 
and  Mr.  C.  W.  Dirickson,  of  Berlin,  says :  "  On  their  way  north 
in  spring  a  few  stop  and  stay  with  us  all  summer.  They  lay 
their  eggs  in  very  much  the  same  place  as  the  terns,  and  in  fact 
you  can  sometimes  find  both  nesting  very  close  together."  I 
am  informed  that  they  breed  in  large  numbers  on  Chincoteague 
Island,  and  also  on  Mockhorn  and  Smith's  Islands,  Va.  "A 
few  still  breed  on  the  New  Jersey  coast"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and 
N.  J.,  76-77). 


290  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

On  August  19  ('93,  Janon  Fisher)  a  number  were  shot  a  few 
miles  down  the  beach  from  Ocean  City.  On  August  27,  '93,  a 
bunch  of  about  30  were  on  the  flats  opposite  the  Navy  Yard, 
Washington,  D.  C.  (B.  A.  Bean,  Forest  and  Stream,  xli, 
230).  On  November  3,  '94,  I  saw  a  single  bird  in  the  Balti- 
*  more  market,  still  quite  fresh,  which  had  been  shot  "  down  the 
necks,"  possibly  one  or  two  days  before. 

Pavoncella  pugnax  (260).     Kuff. 

On  September  3,  '94,  a  bird  of  this  species  was  shot  at  Four 
Mile  Run  by  Wm.  Palmer  (Richmond).  This  European  species 
has  occasionally  been  taken  on  the  coast  of  New  England  and 
the  Middle  States  (for  references  see  Key,  641). 

Bartramia  longicauda  (261).     Bartramian  Sandpiper. 

Common  during  migrations  and  fairly  represented  in  summer. 
In  Dulaney's  Valley  they  were  first  noted  on  April  21  ('94, 
Fisher),  the  migratory  birds  leaving  about  the  middle  of  May; 
they  are  noted  again  from  August  11  ('95)  to  September  8 
('95).  This  year  ('95)  two  pair  spent  the  summer  in  the  north 
end  of  the  valley,  and  about  a  mile  apart.  These  I  visited 
weekly;  up  to  July  14  both  birds  of  each  pair  would  allow  of 
quite  close  approach,  one,  presumably  the  female,  often  circling 
round  within  50  feet.  They  gave  every  sign  of  nesting,  but  it 
was  not  until  early  in  August  that  the  young  were  seen  flying 
with  the  parents.  On  August  8  two  young  birds  were  shot. 
These  birds  were  flying  in  two  bunches  of  4  and  6  until 
September  1. 

On  July  3  ('95)  one,  evidently  lost,  was  flying  round  calling 
over  an  electric  light  in  Baltimore  City  at  11.30  P.  M. 

"On  July  27  ('89)  one  was  shot  at  Laurel  by  Geo.  Marshall. 
First  recorded  at  Washington  on  April  6  ('92) ;  few  stop  on 
their  passage,  but  they  are  commonly  heard  while  migrating  at 
night"  (Richmond).  "A  summer  resident,  rare  at  that  season" 
(A.  C.,  83). 


1895]  MAKYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  291 

Actitis  macularia  (263).     Spotted  Sandpiper. 

Common  summer  resident  from  April  8  ('93,  Gray)  to  Oct. 
18  (794).  Numerous  all  through  the  state  wherever  there  is 
water;  they  regularly  spend  the  summer  at  Druid  Hill  Lake, 
and  a  few  years  ago  I  frequently  observed  a  pair  on  Jones  Falls 
opposite  Union  Station,  where  no  doubt  they  had  a  nest. 

On  May  30  ('91,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.),  a  nest  was  found  at 
Tolchester,  containing  four  nearly  hatched  eggs,  and  on  July  21 
('95),  four  young  were  still  being  led  by  the  parents. 

On  July  21  ('95),  I  watched  one  for  some  time;  the  speed 
with  which  it  ran  after  a  fly,  with  sudden  doubles,  was  remark- 
able ;  every  once  in  a  while  it  stopped  to  scratch  the  back  of  its 
head,  finally  it  thought  a  wash  would  do  that  head  good,  so 
flying  to  a  shallow  part  of  the  run,  it  squatted  down  in  the 
water  and  began  to  duck  its  head  under,  scratching  the  back  of 
its  head  on  both  sides  with  the  nail  of  the  long  middle  toe,  until 
it  got  every  feather  raised  and  quite  wet.  The  balance  of  the 
body  received  no  attention.  Hopping  on  a  stone  it  dried  its 
head  by  rubbing  it  against  its  sides  several  times  and  then  flew 
away.  This  head  washing  lasted  nine  minutes. 

Numenius  longirostris  (264).     Long-billed  Curlew. 

Breeding  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  north  as  North  Carolina, 
and  casually  north  to  New  England,  this  species  is  "a  straggler 
on  the  New  Jersey  coast,  occurring  generally  in  May  and  Septem- 
ber77 (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  78).  On  May  23  ('93),  two  were 
on  Hail  Point,  Kent  County.  On  August  19  ('93,  Janon 
Fisher),  quite  a  number  were  shot  a  few  miles  south  of  Ocean 
City,  and  during  September  ('93,  G.  A.  Rasch),  they  were  un- 
usually plentiful  at  Cobb's  Island. 

Numenius  hudsonicus  (265).     Hudsonian  Curlew. 

Migratory  through  the  United  States.  One  day  in  August, 
1881,  W.  H.  Fisher  shot  three  about  eight  miles  below  Ocean 
City,  Md.  On  May  19  (791),  he  saw  a  good  many  at  New 


292  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Marsh,  Cobb's  Island,  but  they  would  not  decoy,  and  two  days 
later  he  saw  quite  a  number  at  Smith's  Island.  Given  as 
"common  transient  along  the  New  Jersey  coast,  occurring  May 
1  to  June  1,  and  July  15  to  September  15"  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and 
N.  J.,  78).  On  May  10  (795),  five  and  one  Curlew  flew  over 
Baltimore  City,  presumably  they  were  of  this  species. 


Numenius  borealis  (266).     Eskimo  Curlew. 

Migrating  through  United  States.  Captain  Crumb  calls  this 
species  a  rare  and  irregular  migrant  at  Cobb's  Island  (Birds 
Vas.,  57).  "Rare  transient  on  the  coast,  appearing  in  May 
and  again  in  September,  according  to  Turnbull"  (Birds  E.  Pa. 
and  N.  J.,  78). 

Family  CHARADKIIDJE — Plovers. 
Charadrius  squatarola  (270).     Black-billed  Plover. 

"Migratory  in  United  States,  preferably  coastwise,  common, 
but  less  so  than  dominions"  (Key,  598).  Three  were  noted  at 
Waverly  on  May  12  ('94,  Wholey),  and  one  in  Dulaney's 
Valley  the  next  day.  On  May  19  ('91,  Fisher)  three  were 
shot  at  Cobb's  Island,  Va.,  and  next  day  two  more  from 
numerous  flocks  observed.  Given  as  common  on  the  New 
Jersey  coast  from  April  30  to  May  22,  and  from  latter  part  of 
July  to  September  15.  Dr.  W.  L.  Abbott  has  taken  specimens 
on  June  3  and  November  7  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  78-79). 

Charadrius  dominicus  (272).     American  Golden  Plover. 

In  New  Jersey  a  very  erratic  transient,  rarely  seen  in  spring, 
but  at  irregular  intervals  occurring  in  large  flocks  in  the  fall" 
(Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  79).  At  Washington,  "rare  and 
irregular  migrant"  (Richmond);  at  Cumberland  (Shriver). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  293 


vocifera  (273).     Killdeer. 

Common  in  summer  all  over  the  state;  this  species  is  very 
numerous  during  migrations  in  tidewater  Maryland,  where 
during  mild  winters  more  or  less  may  winter.  In  Dulaney's 
Valley  this  species  is  a  common  bird  from  March  10  ('95)  to 
December  2  ('94),  while  at  Powhatan  Dam  it  was  noted  as  early 
as  February  25  ('93,  Gray).  The  set  of  eggs  is,  as  far  as  I 
know,  four.  Fresh  eggs  were  noted  May  28  ('92),  one  hatched 
and  three  pipped,  on  June  5  ('91),  and  young  still  with  the 
parents  on  July  23  ('93). 

On  and  after  July  14  ('95),  they  are  usually  to  be  found  in 
flocks,  53  on  one  occasion  being  counted  in  a  close  bunch. 


/Egialitis  semipalmata  (274).     Semipalmated  Plover. 

Common  migrant  appearing  on  ocean  front,  sand  beaches  of 
Chesapeake  Bay  and  mud  flats  of  our  larger  inland  waters 
from  early  in  May  to  the  29  ('80,  Resler),  when  one  was  taken 
at  Patapsco  Marsh.  Returning  late  in  July,  and  remaining 
until  September  22  ('94,  Tylor),  when  five  were  taken  at  Ocean 
City.  On  August  12  ('94)  and  29  ('93,  Fisher),  they  were 
numerous  along  Loch  Raven. 


meloda  (277).     Piping  Plover. 

On  June  5  ('94),  one  feeding  in  the  wash  of  the  waves  a  few 
miles  from  Ocean  City  was  noted  and  three  days  later,  one  back 
where  the  sand  and  marsh  grass  meet,  gave  unmistakable 
evidence  of  having  either  eggs  or  small  young,  but  neither 
could  be  found. 

Given  from  April  15  to  May  15,  and  in  September  and 
October  as  a  transient,  a  few  breeding,  and  also  wintering  on 
the  New  Jersey  coast  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  79-80).  Capt. 
Crumb  states  that  it  has  nested  at  Cobb's  Island. 


294  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  [1895 

/Egialitis  meloda  circumcincta  (277a).     Belted  Piping 

Plover. 

This  western  species  is  occasional  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  On 
May  3,  '84,  a  specimen,  now  in  the  National  Museum,  was 
obtained  on  the  shore  of  the  Potomac  opposite  Washington,  near 
the  Long  Bridge  (H.  M.  Smith  and  Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  v,  147). 

Egialitis  wilsonia  (280).     Wilson's  Plover. 

Common  during  summer  along  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  north 
as  Virginia.  At  Cobb's  Island,  Va.,  Mr.  H.  B.  Bailey  found 
it  a  comparatively  common  bird,  May  25-29,  '75  (Auk,  i,  26), 
and  they  were  found  breeding  there  on  May  20,  '91  (Fisher). 
"Rare  straggler  on  the  New  Jersey  coast,  where  it  probably 
bred  a  few  years  ago  "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  80). 

Family  APHEIZID^ — Turnstones. 
Arenaria  interpres  (283).     Turnstone. 

Common  migrant  on  our  ocean  front  during  May,  August 
and  September.  Apparently  irregular  on  the  Chesapeake,  they 
have  been  taken  as  far  up  the  Potomac  as  Washington,  D.  C. 
"Three  Turnstones  in  the  National  Museum  were  taken  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  by  Mr.  C.  Drexler  in  1860  (?).  In  June, 
'82,  Mr.  J.  A.  Moore  killed  a  bird  at  Jones  Point,  Va.,  near 
Washington.  In  May,  '81,  Mr.  O.  N.  Bryan  secured  one, 
and  saw  another  at  Marshall  Hall,  Md.,  and  we  know  of  the 
occurrence  of  three  others  on  the  Potomac  River  within  the 
past  three  years "  (H.  M.  Smith  and  Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  v, 
147-148). 

Family  H^MATOPODID^E — Oystercatchers. 
Hsematopus  palliatus  (286).     American  Oyster  catcher. 

Common  on  the  coast  of  the  Southern  States  during  summer. 
At  Cobb's  Island  they  were  found  breeding,  and  eggs  were 
taken  during  June,  '88  (Theo.  W.  Richards,  Oologist,  vii,  186), 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OP   SCIENCES.  295 

and  on  May  20,  '91,  several  pairs  were  observed  there  (Fisher). 
On  June  5,  '91,  one  was  noted  flying  south  at  North  Beach,  a 
few  miles  south  of  Ocean  City,  Md.  "Very  rare  straggler  on 
New  Jersey  coast "  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  81). 

Order  GALLIN^E — GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS. 
i 

Family  TETKAONIDJS — Grouse,  Bob-whites,  etc. 
Colinus  virginianus  (289).     Bob-white. 

Common,  resident;  May  2  ('93)  is  the  earliest  date  I  have 
heard  the  well-known  call  of  "Bob- white,"  this  is  generally 
stopped  by  the  early  part  of  September  ;  it  has,  however,  been 
heard  as  late  as  October  23  ('88,  Wholey).  Their  equally  well- 
known  whistle  and  the  faint  "  click-click  "  of  the  covey  may 
be  heard  at  any  time.  Usually  the  call  is  given  from  the  top 
of  the  fence,  but  I  have  heard  it  repeatedly  given  by  birds  in 
trees.  The  nest  is  seldom  found  except  during  harvest  when 
numbers  are  uncovered.  Sets  are  one  each  of  8,  12,  14,  18 
and  22,  and  2  of  10.  A  nest  with  eggs  was  found  as  late  as 
September  1  ('95).  A  covey  of  7  or  8  holding  together  rather 
late  was  flushed  near  Magnolia  on  May  4  ('93,  Fisher). 

Coturnix  communis — European  Quail. 

In  the  fall  of  '79,  Messrs.  Poultney,  Trimble  &  Co.  imported  about 
200  birds  from  Italy.  These  Mr.  Charles  D.  Fisher  turned  loose  on 
his  place  at  Ruxton,  but  never  saw  anything  of  them  afterwards. 
The  following  spring  about  1000  were  imported,  and  Mr.  Kleibacker 
tells  me  there  were  several  eggs  in  the  boxes  when  they  arrived. 
Quite  a  number  were  turned  out  on  the  ''Dundee  Shore,"  where 
occasionally  one  or  two  were  seen  during  the  summer,  but  early  in 
fall  they  entirely  disappeared.  Messrs.  Charles  B.  Rogers  and  Geo. 
Brown  also  liberated  a  number  in  Green  Spring  Valley,  where  at 
least  one  pair  nested.  Mr.  Rogers  writing  me  under  date  of  January 
27,  '93,  says  :  "  There  were  several  pairs  of  the  birds  on  our  property. 
I  remember  that  a  nest  was  found  near  our  blacksmith  shop,  it  was 
on  the  ground  in  a  cluster  of  weeds,  and  if  I  remember  correctly  had 
13  eggs  in  it.  Nothing  however  was  ever  seen  or  heard  of  the  Quail 
after  the  first  winter. "  Mr.  Isaac  Slingluff  writing  in  reference  to  the 


296  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

above,  says  :  "  The  nest  was  found  close  to  the  bank  of  Shoemaker's 
Bun.  I  think  there  were  12  or  13  eggs  in  it,  4  of  which  did  not 
hatch."  One  of  these  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Jesse  Slingluff. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Hasbrouck,  of  Washington,  writes  me,  "In  February, 
'95,  I  saw  a  bunch  of  European  Quail  exposed  for  sale  on  the  street ; 
they  were  said  to  have  been  killed  near  Opequan  Creek,  but  I  could 
get  no  further  information." 

Bonasa  umbellus  (300).     Buffed  Grouse. 

Common,  resident.  On  May  2  ('94,  Fisher),  a  nest  with  10 
fresh  eggs  was  found.  During  July  a  covey  of  young,  about 
as  large  as  partridge,  were  seen  near  Ellicott  City  by  Mr. 
Basil  Sellers,  and  on  June  10,  '95,  at  Vale  Summit,  I  came 
across  a  pair  with  8  or  10  young  about  the  same  size. 

Tympanuchus  americanus  (305).     Prairie  Hen. 

Early  in  the  winter  of  '85  or  '86,  Col.  Edw.  Wilkins  got  12  or  15 
birds  from  the  west  and  kept  them  until  spring  when  he  turned  them 
loose  in  his  orchard,  on  the  Chester  River,  about  four  miles  below 
Chestertown,  Kent  County ;  a  few  days  later  two  or  three  were  seen 
and  then  they  disappeared.  On  Eastern  Neck  Island,  Mr.  Spencer 
Wicks  shot  one  in  the  fall,  and  Mr.  Newton  Bogle  several  times  saw 
another  dusting  itself  in  the  road  in  the  front  of  his  house.  Possibly 
these  were  some  of  Col.  Wilkins  birds.  "Mr.  Eidgway  records  the 
killing  of  a  Prairie  Hen  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac,  near 
Washington,  March  17,  '85  (Forest  and  Stream,  xxiv,  204  and  248) . 
It  has  been  suggested  that  it  was  a  descendant  of  birds,  liberated 
previously  at  Snow  Hill,  Maryland"  (Birds  Vas.,  59). 

Family  PHASIANID^E — Pheasants,  etc. 
Phasianus  colchicus.     European  Pheasant. 

Col.  W.  F.  Mason  McCarty  tells  me  that  some  years  ago  a  number 
were  liberated  on  the  grounds  of  the  Woodmount  Gunning  Club  in 
Washington  County.  They  are  now  fairly  numerous,  and  this  colony 
may  be  considered  as  established.  Occasionally  birds  wander  off, 
and  have  been  shot  quite  a  distance  away  from  the  preserve. 

Meleagris  gallopavo  (310).     Wild  Turkey. 

Mr.  Robert  Shriver  writing  from  Cumberland,  says,  "  Indig- 
enous here,  about  as  abundant  as  ever,  they  seem  to  be  less 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  297 

numerous  some  seasons,  owing  probably  to  severity  of  weather 
or  excessive  hunting/7 

Mr.  Wm.  H.  Fisher  supplies  the  following :  "  Mr.  J.  R, 
Bidgley  tells  me  that  on  his  farm  in  Howard  County,  about  10 
miles  from  Ellicotfc  City,  some  years  ago  he  was  listening  for 
squirrels  and  became  conscious  of  a  wild  turkey,  when  too  late 
to  secure  it."  He  also  says  "  that  now  ('93)  there  are  a  few 
near  his  farm  in  a  tract  called  Beaver  Dam  Woods. " 

Mr.  Harden,  of  Georgetown,  shot  two  in  the  winter  of  '  81-82, 
between  Georgetown  and  Tennallytown  (A.  C.,  ?92). 

"While  at  Weverton  on  September  26,  '93,  John  Leopold 
told  me  that  about  the  first  of  the  month  a  flock  of  at  least  10 
were  seen,  and  that  now  a  flock  of  seven  young,  with  two  adults, 
is  on  the  other  (Virginia)  side  of  the  river.  Occasionally  he  has 
seen  turkeys  fly  across  the  river,  and  once  one  gave  out  and  fell 
into  the  water  "  (Fisher). 

Order  COLUMB.ZE — PIGEONS  AND  DOVES. 
Family  COLUMBID^: — Pigeons  and  Doves. 

Ectopistes  migratorius  (315).     Passenger  Pigeon. 

Originally  occurring  in  large  numbers,  but  only  occasionally 
seen  of  late  years.  On  August  27,  ?93,  I  flushed  a  pair  from 
a  fence  in  the  upper  end  of  Dulaney's  Valley  and  further  down 
a  single  bird  from  a  tree  top.  These  birds  I  watched  for  some 
time  through  a  field  glass,  but  none  of  their  actions  differed 
from  those  of  doves.  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Fisher  supplies  the  follow- 
ing :  "For  about  10  days,  in  October  '78,  flocks  of  Wild  Pigeons 
flew  over  our  house  at  Mount  Washington  between  7  and  7.30 
A.  M.;  6  to  10  flocks  of  from  5  to  20  birds  each  day.  In 
September,  '88, 1  shot  one  near  Bradshaw,  and  in  September,  ?89, 
another  in  Dulaney's  Valley;  this  last  was  flying  with  a  flock 
of  Doves.  Mr.  J.  E.  Ridgley  tells  me  that  he  saw  a  flock  of 
50  or  60  about  8  miles  from  Ellicott  City  on  September  17,  '93. 
Clarence  Cottman  says  he  saw  a  flock  of  about  40  pass  near  the 


298  TRANSACTIONS  OF   THE  [1895 

head  of  Lake  Roland  and  fly  up  Green  Spring  Valley  on  Sep- 
tember 19,  '93." 

Dr.  Coues,  speaking  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  says: 
"I  once  killed  a  specimen  so  newly  from  the  nest  as  to  cause 
me  to  believe  that  it  had  been  hatched  in  the  vicinity"  (Birds 
N.  W.,  389). 

They  were  once  very  common  at  Cumberland,  but  of  late 
years  have  become  very  rare  (Shriver).  At  Vale  Summit  I  was 
told  that  the  last  flight  occurred  there  on  the  evening  of  New 
Years  day  '77,  when  the  sky  was  black  with  them  and  large 
numbers  were  killed. 

Zenaidura  macroura  (316).     Mourning  Dove. 

Common,  resident.  The  usual  set  of  2  eggs  is  recorded  from 
April  1  ('82,  Small),  at  Hagerstown,  to  August  17  ('93,  Stabler) 
at  Sandy  Springs ;  near  Baltimore,  from  April  9  ('93)  to  August 
13  ('90,  Resler).  The  nest  is  usually  placed  on  a  fork,  or 
among  twigs  on  a  horizontal  branch,  where  it  is  flat  and  shallow, 
but  I  found  one  built  in  the  fork  of  a  split  cedar  14  inches 
from  bottom  to  top.  I  have  also  found  a  number  in  old  nests 
(Robin,  Purple  Grackle,  Cardinal,  etc.),  also  on  fence  rails  and 
one  on  top  of  a  stump.  Dr.  Warren  cites  several  on  the 
ground  (Birds  Pa.,  114). 

During  fall  they  unite  into  bunches  and  flocks,  these  are 
recorded  from  August  3  ('95)  to  April  3  ('93) ;  as  a  rule  they 
do  not  range  above  25,  but  I  have  seen  about  50,  and  Mr.  Win- 
H.  Fisher  saw  one  of  at  least  200  on  August  26,  '93. 

Columbigallina  passerina  terrestris  (320).    Ground  Dove. 

Common  in  the  Southern  States;  "its  usual  range  is  limited  by 
the  Carolinas,  but  I  have  a  record  of  the  capture  of  a  specimen 
many  years  ago  at  Washington"  (A.  C.,  91.  Birds  N.  W.,  390). 
Another  specimen  shot  by  Mr.  Thos.  Marron  on  Oct.  14,  '88, 
at  Broad  Creek,  Md.,  is  now  in  the  National  Museum  (Smith. 
Report,  '89,  117,  358  and  801). 

One  was  taken  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  in  '44  (Birds  E.  Pa. 
and  N.  J.,  80). 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  299 

Order  KAPTOEES— BIRDS  OF  PREY. 

Family  CATHARTIDJE — American  Vultures. 

Cathartes  aura  (325).     Turkey  Vulture. 

Resident,  common.  14  sets  of  2  eggs  are  recorded  from 
April  19  ('82,  W.  L.  Amoss,  Fallston)  to  May  30  ('91,  Stabler, 
Sandy  Springs).  I  have  several  times  heard  of  3  eggs,  but 
never  could  verify  the  statement.  The  eggs,  nest  there  is  none, 
are  placed  in  hollow  prostrate  logs,  hollow  stumps,  under  rocks, 
stones,  or  bushes,  and  in  one  case  under  the  worn  side  of  an  old 
straw  stack.  Given  as  resident  at  Hagerstown  (Small),  but 
only  as  casual  at  Cumberland  (Shriver) ;  at  Vale  Summit  I  only 
saw  3  in  10  days  (June  5  to  14,  '95). 

While  usually  not  noticed  by  other  birds,  I  saw  a  crow  chase 
one  on  May  8/92,  and  a  Fish  Hawk  chase  another  on  May  30,  '93. 

Catharista  atrata  (326).     Black  Vulture. 

"North,  regularly  to  North  Carolina,  irregularly  or  casually 
to  Maine,  New  York,  etc."  (Manual,  222).  "Rarely  breeds 
North  of  36°"  (Bendire,  165).  "On  March  30,  '95,  at  Ken- 
sington, Md.,  Mr.  J.  D.  Figgins  saw  4  birds  which  he  supposed 
were  of  this  species.  He  had  never  seen  the  Black  Vulture  in 
life,  but  was  familiar  with  the  other  large  birds  known  to  occur 
here  and  from  his  description  of  the  actions  of  the  birds,  I  have 
no  doubt  they  were  really  of  this  species"  (Richmond). 

Family  FALCONIDJE — Falcons,  Hawks,  Eagles,  etc. 
Elanoides  forficatus  (327).     Swallow-tailed  Kite. 

"On  the  Atlantic  coast  its  natural  limits  appear  to  be  the 
lower  portions  of  Virginia,  but  it  has  more  than  once  occurred 
in  the  Middle  States"  (Birds  N.  W.,  332).  On  April  5,  '93, 
I  examined  a  mounted  specimen ;  on  inquiry  I  was  told  it  had 
been  shot  by  Mr.  W.  T.  Levering,  Jr.,  on  Maidens  Choice  Lane, 
close  to  Kenwood  Station,  near  Catonsville,  Baltimore  County, 
late  in  the  summer  (late  July  or  early  August)  of  '89. 


300  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

While  in  Queen  Anne  County  (May  '92)  my  boatman  several 
times  mentioned  a  "white Hawk  with  a  split  tail"  which  he  had 
observed  occasionally,  but  he  could  not  tell  how  often  or  at 
what  time  of  year.  Mr.  A.  P.  Bowen  writes  me  that  it  is 
occasionally  seen  in  Prince  George's  County. 

Circus  hudsonius  (331).     Marsh  Hawk. 

Common  resident  in  tide- water  Maryland,  this  species  is 
common  in  the  uplands  from  August  4  ('95)  to  May  2  ('91, 
Gray),  and  on  June  29  ('92,  Gray)  one  was  seen  near  Powhatan. 
Mr.  L.  D.  Willis,  of  Church  Creek,  Dorchester  County,  informs 
me  that  on  a  salt  marsh  of  the  Blackwater  River,  about  10 
miles  south  of  Cambridge,  he  found  a  nest  of  the  Marsh  Hawk 
containing  6  fresh  eggs  on  June  2,  '95.  Next  day  the  female 
was  shot  and  an  egg  ready  for  extension  was  found  in  the  ova- 
duct.  The  nest,  a  slight  affair  of  dry  reeds  and  grass,  was 
placed  on  a  slight  elevation  about  60  yards  back  from  the  open 
water  and  entirely  surrounded  by  thick  reeds. 

Accipiter  velox  (332).     Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

Common  resident,  but  not  very  numerous  in  summer.  On 
May  20  ('91,  Blogg)  a  set  of  4  eggs  was  taken,  and  on  May  29 
('92,  Fisher)  another  of  5.  At  Sandy  Springs  on  May  16,  '91, 
two  fresh  eggs,  and  15  days  later  a  set  of  5  (Stabler). 

For  two  years  in  succession  this  terror  of  the  poultry  yard 
nested  close  to  our  house,  but  as  far  as  I  could  learn  the  chickens 
were  not  molested.  In  '84  the  young  had  left  the  nest  and 
were  being  fed  round  the  house  on  June  8,  15  and  22.  In  '85 
I  spent  May  31  and  June  7  watching  the  young  being  fed. 
They  were  in  a  natural  cavity  of  a  chestnut  tree  in  full  view 
of  the  house  and  not  100  feet  away  from  it.  The  entrance 
was  a  small  rotted-out  branch  hole  about  4  inches  in  diameter 
and  about  40  feet  from  the  ground.  By  means  of  a  field  glass 
I  saw  that  the  young  were  being  fed  on  grasshoppers.  On  the 
approach  of  a  parent  they  made  a  great  noise,  and  as  this  could 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  301 

easily  he  heard  all  over  the  house,  the  feeding  was  continuous 
from  "the  dawn's  early  light,"  until  it  was  too  dark  to  see  the 
birds  come  and  go.  The  nest  of  this  species  is  usually  placed 
in  the  twigs  of  a  cedar  or  pine. 

Accipiter  cooperi  (333).     Cooper's  Hawk. 

Resident,  but  at  all  times  less  numerous  than  velox.  The 
nest  is  built  early  in  April,  and  the  birds  stay  around  it  a  long 
time  before  the  eggs  are  laid.  On  April  29  ('91,  Stabler)  a 
set  of  eggs  was  taken  at  Sandy  Springs,  and  on  June  20  ('88, 
Resler),  two  birds,  at  most  a  week  old,  were  in  a  nest  in  Howard 
County.  Sets  are  1  of  2,  2  of  3  and  2  of  5. 

Accipiter  atricapillus  (334).     American  Goshawk. 

Maryland  appears  to  be  the  southern  limit  of  this  species  in 
winter,  but  it  is  not  taken  here  often.  In  '68,  Dr.  J.  Lee 
McComas,  of  Cumberland,  sent  two,  shot  in  Maryland,  to  the 
Smithsonian  (Smith.  Report,  '68,  57),  and  another  sent  to  Dr. 
A.  K.  Fisher,  was  taken  in  a  steel  trap  by  Mr.  Leizear,  of 
Sandy  Springs,  on  December  27  ('87,  Stabler). 

Buteo  borealis  (337).     Red-tailed  Hawk. 

•  Resident,  common,  but  not  often  seen  in  summer.  Two 
slightly  incubated  eggs  were  taken  on  March  25  ('94,  Hoen), 
and  three  birds  just  hatched  were  seen  on  May  7  ('93),  while 
two  birds  apparently  just  out  of  the  nest  were  trying  to  follow 
their  parents  on  July  5  ('94).  Sets  are  1  of  1 ;  5  of  2 ;  2  of  3 
and  1  of  4.  Outside  the  breeding  season  they  are  more  or  less 
gregarious,  at  times  being  seen  in  quite  large  flocks. 

Buteo  lineatus  (399).     Red-shouldered  Hawk. 

Inside  the  limits  of  Baltimore  City  this  is  the  most  numerous 
hawk  at  any  time  of  the  year,  but  in  Baltimore  County  borealis 
far  outnumbers  it.  On  March  20  (793)  two  sets  of  fresh  eggs 


302  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

were  taken  (a  ring  of  snow  was  round  each  nest,  and  it  was  two 
feet  deep  on  the  ground) ;  while  on  May  6  ('94,  Wholey)  a  set 
nearly  incubated  was  collected,  and  on  May  31  ('91)  a  second 
set  was  taken.  Sets  are  5  of  2 ;  4  of  3,  and  4  of  4. 

Outside  the  breeding  season,  this  species,  like  borealis  may 
sometimes  be  seen  in  flocks,  more  often  in  bunches  of  3  or  4  to 
10,  but  generally  singly  or  in  pairs. 

Buteo  latissimus  (343).     Broad-winged  Hawk. 

Resident,  but  not  common.  On  April  27  ('91)  a  set  of 
three  eggs  was  taken;  on  May  19  ('92,  Blogg)  a  set  of  two, 
and  on  May  23  ('92,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.)  a  set  of  three  nearly 
incubated.  At  Sandy  Springs,  a  set  of  three  was  taken  April 
9  ('91);  one  of  three  in  May  ('92);  one  of  two  on  May  15 
('92),  and  another  of  two  on  May  22  ('92,  Stabler). 

The  three  Buteos  are  the  hawks  usually  shot  by  our  farmers, 
because  they  are  large,  fly  slow,  and  are  called  "hen-hawks," 
while  the  much  smaller,  swift  flying,  Faleos  and  Accipiters, 
that  may  at  times  take  chickens,  escape. 

Archibuteo   lagopus   sancti-johannis    (347a).      American 
Rough-legged  Hawk. 

"Along  the  Delaware,  below  Philadelphia,  it  is  still  found  in 
considerable  numbers  from  November  to  the  end  of  March"' 
(Birds  E.  Pa.  and  IN".  J.,  87).  It  does  not  appear  to  be 
numerous  in  Maryland.  On  January  24,  '92,  in  Dulaney's 
Valley,  one  sitting  on  a  tree  allowed  me  to  drive  slowly  past 
within  twenty  feet  of  it.  Dr.  M.  G.  Ellzey  says  this  species 
was  very  numerous  in  Howard  County  during  the  winter  and 
spring  of  '87-88  (Forest  and  Stream,  xxxii,  212).  At  Sandy 
Springs  one  was  shot  by  Mr.  Leizear  on  March  17,  '88 
(Stabler).  One  was  seen  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac, 
opposite  Washington,  on  December  29,  '79,  by  Mr.  H.  W. 
Henshaw  (A.  C.,  88-9),  and  it  has  been  taken  in  the  District 
of  Columbia  (L.  M.  McCormick,  Auk,  i,  397). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  303 

Aquila  chrysaetos  (349).     Golden  Eagle. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant.  On  June  30,  '83,  a  mounted 
specimen  was  presented  to  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences, 
by  Dr.  Murdoch ;  it  was  shot  at  Back  River,  and  had  five  toes 
instead  of  four.  On  November  28,  '94,  one  was  shot  at  Otter 
Creek,  Harford  County;  this  specimen  I  had  mounted.  Four 
were  secured  in  Maryland,  near  Washington  (see  Smith.  Reports, 
'62,  58;  '69,  55;  '75,  73;  '91,  793).  On  December  8,  '87, 
one  was  shot  at  Gaithersburg  (Fisher's  Hawks  and  Owls,  97). 
One  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Cumberland  was  shot  by 
Mr.  Robert  Shriver  about  30  years  ago.  "Until  about  1856, 
for  many  years  a  pair  is  said  to  have  nested  in  the  southern 
part  of  Lancaster  County  on  a  lofty  jutting  cliff  over  the  Sus- 
quehanna  River"  (M.  W.  Raub,  Auk,  ix,  200). 

Haliaeetus  leucocephalus  (352).     Bald  Eagle. 

Resident,  and  generally  dispersed  along  the  shores  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  and  other  larger  waters  of  Maryland,  being 
fairly  common.  At  Loch  Raven  it  is  no  unusual  sight  to  see 
one  or  more,  and  Dr.  Wilson,  of  Glenarm,  tells  me  that  about 
40  years  ago  there  was  a  nest  used  year  after  year  within  half 
a  mile  of  his  house.  I  have  only  found  the  nest  "down  the 
necks"  and  on  the  Eastern  Shore;  but  they  breed  all  along 
the  Potomac  as  far  up  as  Hancock.  On  March  8  ('94)  three 
eggs  nearly  fresh  were  taken;  on  March  27  ('95),  two  nearly 
fresh ;  on  March  29  ('93),  two  about  two-thirds  incubated ;  on 
April  15  ('93),  two  birds,  five  or  six  weeks  old,  and  on  June  2 
('92),  two  birds  about  ready  to  leave  the  nest.  On  February  26 
('93),  two  eggs  were  collected  at  Mount  Vernon  by  E.  M.  Has- 
brouck.  The  nest  being  used  for  years,  sometimes  attains  con- 
siderable size,  eight  feet  across  the  top  and  seven  feet  high,  is 
the  largest  one  I  have  measured. 

In  confinement  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  two  eggs  were  laid,  in- 
cubation commenced  on  March  26,  '86,  and  one  bird  was  hatched 
on  April  26 ;  on  March  18,  '88,  she  again  started  to  incubate 


304  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

two  eggs ;  one  bird  was  hatched  on  April  22,  and  another  the 
next  day  (Henry  Hulce,  Forest  and  Stream,  xxvi,  327  and  xxx, 
289). 

Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (356).     Duck  Hawk. 

"Universally,  but  irregularly  distributed  in  North  America, 
scarcely  to  be  considered  common  anywhere,  breeds  as  far  south 
as  Virginia  at  least,  usually  in  mountainous  regions"  (Key, 
536).  "  Nests  sparingly  from  35°  north  "  (Bendire,  292).  On 
March  5  ('87,  Fisher),  one  was  seen  at  Grace's  Quarter,  but  it 
kept  out  of  range.  On  December  10,  '94,  one  was  brought 
alive  to  Baltimore  by  a  countryman,  and  lived  for  about  four 
months  in  the  window  of  No.  208  E.  Baltimore  street. 

"Mr.  W.  T.  Koberts  got  a  female  on  November  16,  79,  at 
Potomac  Landing,  near  Washington"  (Richmond).  "Mr.  Jouy 
states  that  the  Duck  Hawk  has  been  known  to  breed  at  Harper's 
Ferry"  (A.  C.,  87).  In  reference  to  this,  Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher 
had  a  conversation  with  a  resident  of  Harper's  Ferry  on  October 
10,  '93.  He  was  not  acquainted  with  the  "Duck  Hawk,"  but 
stated  that  the  "Rock  Hawk  "  nested  on  the  face  of  the  Mary- 
land Heights,  and  that  the  site  of  the  nest  could  be  easily 
located  by  the  "  white- wash  "  after  the  young  were  hatched. 

This  species  is  reported  as  regularly  breeding  along  the  Sus- 
quehanna  in  Lancaster  and  York  Counties,  Pa.  In  the  latter 
county  a  set  of  four  slightly  incubated  eggs  was  taken  on  April 
7,  '80,  by  Mr.  Geo.  Miller  (Birds  Pa.,  137). 

Falco  columbarius  (357).     Pigeon  Hawk. 

"Whole  of  North  America,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the 
United  States"  (Manual,  250).  "Doubtless  breeds  in  the 
mountainous  portions  of  some  of  the  Southern  States"  (Ben- 
dire,  299). 

I  have  but  few  notes  on  this  powerful  little  hawk.  On 
April  19,  '92,  one  was  shot  at  Washington,  that  had  been  feed- 
ing  on  a^Sparrow4iawk  (Fisher's  Hawks  and  Owls,  113).  On 
April  26,  '93,  one  was  shot  near  Bay  View  by  A.  Wolle, 


1895  MAKYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  305 

it  had  been  feeding  on  a  Snow-bird.  On  April  30,  '93,  in 
Dulaney's  Valley  two  birds  swished  close  past  me  making  for 
a  small  scrubby  thorn  bush,  round  which  they  went  several 
times;  finally  one  darted  into  its  centre,  the  other  kept  round 
once  more  and  lit  on  top.  I  then  saw  that  they  were  a  Catbird 
and  a  Pigeon  Hawk,  the  hawk  seeing  me  flew,  but  the  Catbird 
remained  apparently  thoroughly  exhausted.  On  October  30, 
'92,  I  surprised  one  feeding  on  a  dove.  A  not  uncommon 
migrant  at  Washington  (Richmond).  "  Mr.  F.  L.  Washburn, 
of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  has  reported  to  the  Agricultural 
Department  that  he  observed  several  pairs,  apparently  breeding 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  April  12,  '87"  (Birds  Vas.,  62). 

Falco  sparverius  (360).     American-  Sparrow  Hawk. 

Resident,  common,  but  most  numerous  during  the  migrations 
of  small  bird.  Hence,  on  March  18  ('93,  Wholey  and  Gray) 
about  75  were  seen  in  Dulaney's  Valley.  During  summer  they 
are  not  often  seen  except  in  the  locality  of  the  nest.  Dates  for 
eggs  range  from  April  17  ('95,  Henninghouse)  to  May  28  ('93), 
and  a  second  set  was  taken  June  24  ('94).  On  August  4  ('95) 
flying  young  were  siill  being  fed  by  the  parents.  Sets  are  9  of 
4  and  6  of  5. 

Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  (364).     American  Osprey. 

Common  summer  resident  on  all  our  larger  waters,  extremely 
numerous  on  the  arms  of  the  Chesapeake.  On  March  11  ('93, 
Blogg)  five  were  seen  at  Fulton  Avenue.  On  the  Eastern 
Shore  it  is  maintained  that  they  always  arrive  on  St.  Patrick's 
Day,  March  17.  Dr.  Sharp's  attention  was  called  to  this,  and  he 
reported  that  the  first  bird  arrived  at  Rock  Hall  on  March  14, 
'95.  Late  in  September  most  have  gone  south,  but  they  have 
been  noted  later,  the  last  on  November  8  ('92,  Blogg). 

On  April  3  ('93)  they  were  patching  up  old  nests  at  the 
mouth  of  Gunpowder,  and  on  April  24  ('94,  Tylor)  sets  of 
fresh  eggs  were  collected  in  Talbot  County,  where  on  August 


306  TKANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

19  ('83)  I  noted  a  number  of  nests  with  young  still  in  them. 
Sets  are  4  of  1,  9  of  2,  19  of  3,  and  3  of  4. 

Inland,  this  bird  is  seen  more  or  less  regularly  at  Loch 
Raven,  and  one  was  seen  as  far  up  the  Gunpowder  as  Cockeys- 
ville  on  April  17,  '94  (Fisher).  Several  were  over  the  Potomac, 
at  Brunswick,  on  September  26,  '93  (Fisher). 

Family  STEIGIDJE — Barn  Owls. 
Strix  pratincola  (365).     American  Barn  Owl. 

"Not  abundant  north  of  the  Carolinas"  (Birds  N.  W.,  300). 
"At  Washington,  where  the  Barn  Owl  is  by  no  means  rare,  they 
begin  nesting  from  the  last  week  in  April  to  about  May  10  " 
(Bendire,  327).  "The  National  Museum  collection  contains 
two  eggs  of  this  bird  taken  from  the  Smithsonian  towers,  one 
in  June,  '61,  the  other  June  1,  '65"  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk, 
v,  20).  On  June  28,  '90,  seven  half-grown  young  were  found 
in  this  tower  (Fisher's  Hawks  and  Owls,  136).  "On  December 
8,  '93,  a  young  bird  that  had  but  recently  left  its  nest  was 
caught,  probably  hatched  some  time  in  October.  On  February 
27,  '95,  another  of  about  the  same  age  was  picked  up  in  a  bush 
in  the  Smithsonian  grounds.  This  was  certainly  not  over  two 
months  old,  and  must  have  been  hatched  in  the  latter  part  of 
December,  if  not  early  in  January ;  certainly  a  most  unusual 
time  of  the  year  for  this  owl  to  breed  in  this  latitude  "  (C.  E. 
Bendire,  Auk,  xii,  180-81). 

Occasionally  one  is  secured  anywhere  in  tidewater  Maryland, 
and  they  seemed  to  be  more  numerous  than  usual  during  the 
spring  of  '93.  On  April  6  one  was  shot  at  the  Old  Marine 
Hospital ;  on  the  20th,  a  male  at  Aberdeen,  Harford  County; 
on  the  22nd,  another  male  on  Patapsco  Neck,  and  on  July  27th 
a  female  and  five  downy  young  were  taken  alive  near  the  Old 
Marine  Hospital,  by  A.  Wolle. 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES.  307 

Family  BUBONIDJE — Horned  Owls,  Hoot  Owls,  etc. 
Asio  wilsonianus  (366).     American  Long-eared  Owl. 

Nocturnal  in  its  habits  ;  this  species  is  resident,  but  as  far  as 
I  know  not  common,  though  a  locality  may  yet  be  found  where 
it  is  numerous.  On  April  22  ('93,  Gray  and  Blogg),  a  set  of 
six  eggs,  nearly  hatched,  was  collected  near  Randalstown,  from 
an  old  crow's  nest  about  20  feet  up  a  small  pine. 

"  Common  resident  at  Washington  "  (Richmond) ;  "  at  Hagers- 
town  one  was  shot  in  January"  ('79  Small). 

Asio  accipitrinus  (367).     Short-eared  Owl. 

"It  is  more  than  likely  that  it  breeds,  occasionally  at  least, 
in  suitable  localities  along  the  borders  of  the  extensive  marshes 
of  the  sea  coast  of  the  southern  Atlantic  States ;  by  far  the 
greater  number,  however,  breed  north  of  the  United  States" 
(Bendire,  332).  "Decidedly  the  commonest  owl  about  Wash- 
ington, especially  in  winter"  (Birds  N.  W.,  307),  where  it  has 
been  taken  in  November,  January,  March  and  April,  and  at 
Sandy  Springs  it  has  been  taken  in  December,  January,  Feb- 
ruary and  March  (Fisher's  Hawks  and  Owls,  148-9).  On  April 
1  ('92,  Fisher)  one  was  taken  at  Ruxton.  On  October  22  ('92, 
Gray),  one  at  Pikesville ;  on  November  8  ('90,  Pleasants),  one 
at  Towson,  and  on  December  2  (J93,  R.  C.  Watters),  one  in  Dor- 
chester County. 

Syrnium  nebulosum  (368).     Barred  Owl. 

Resident,  numerous  "down  the  necks,"  otherwise  fairly  com- 
mon round  Baltimore.  March  16  ('95,  Fisher),  one  fresh  egg, 
and  May  5  ('94,  Fisher),  two  young  birds,  four  or  five  days  old, 
are  extreme  nesting  dates.  Sets  are  2  of  1,  4  of  2,  and  1  of  3. 

Nyctala  acadica  (372).    Saw-whet  Owl. 

While  by  no  means  common  in  winter,  a  number  have  been 
recorded.  On  November  13  ('92,  Blogg)  one  flew  into  a 
brightly  lighted  room  in  the  city.  On  December  23  ('75, 


308  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Resler)  one  was  taken  alive,  and  on  March  4  ('94,  Tyler  and 
Fisher)  another  was  taken  alive  at  Bird  River.  The  records 
of  the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences  show  one  presented  on 
May  15  (79),  possibly  a  mounted  specimen. 

Quite  a  number  are  recorded  from  the  District  of  Columbia 
and  adjoining  portions  of  Maryland.  F.  W.  Webster  notes 
eight  obtained  early  in  October  in  different  years  (Auk,  iv,  161). 
One  taken  on  November  1  ('78) ;  one  on  February  12  ('59),  and 
one  on  March  12  ('89)  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  vi,  189).  One 
on  December  12  ('90)  ;  three  on  January  4  (J91),  and  one  taken 
alive  in  the  Smithsonian'  on  February  4  or  5  ('91)  (E.  M.  Has- 
brouck,  Auk,  viii,  313);  one  on  November  1  ('89)  (Fisher's 
Hawks  and  Owls,  162),  and  another  at  Ivy  City,  on  December 
3  ('89)  (W.  A.  Merritt,  Oologist,  viii,  313). 

Megascops  asio  (373).     Screech  Owl. 

Common  resident  and  generally  dispersed,  but  more  often 
heard  than  seen.  I  have  heard  them  all  through  winter  at 
Waverly,  Baltimore  City,  where  on  January  16,  '92,  at  7.30 
P.  M.  one  was  "laughing"  as  merrily  as  in  June,  though  there 
was  6  inches  of  snow  on  the  ground.  Nesting  dates  range 
from  April  4  ('92),  4  fresh  eggs,  to  June  4  ('93),  3  birds  just 
hatched,  while  on  July  24  ('93)  young  nearly  grown  were  still 
being  fed  by  the  parents.  Sets  are  2  of  2,  5  of  3,  9  of  4,  and 
3  of  5.  As  far  as  I  know  the  gray  and  red  phases  of  plumage 
are  about  equal  round  Baltimore. 

Bubo  virginianus  (375).     Great  Horned  Owl. 

Common  resident,  but  most  numerous  in  heavily  wooded 
sections  of  the  state,  especially  in  tidewater  Maryland.  On 
February  11  (94,  Tylor)  two  fresh  eggs  were  taken  on  the 
Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac,  near  Alexandria.  On  February 
25  ('95,  Tylor),  two  eggs,  one-third  inculated,  at  Magnolia. 
On  April  2  ('93),  one  bird  about  2  weeks  old  at  Bush  River, 
and  on  April  12  ('93,  A.  Wolle),  2  eggs  "down  the  necks."  ' 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  309 

In  Dulaney's  Valley  on  March  10  (J95)  a  nest  was  found 
with  an  egg  about  to  hatch  and  a  young  bird  not  24  hours  old, 
and  on  April  24  (?92)  two  young  birds  just  out  of  the  nest  were 
captured  alive. 

Sets  are  1  of  1,  8  of  2,  1  of  3,  and  early  in  April  '91  four 
birds  just  out  of  the  nest  and  sitting  together  on  a  limb  were 
seen  in  Talbot  County,  two  of  these  were  captured  and  raised 
in  confinement  (Tylor). 

Nyctea  nyctea  (376).     Snowy  Owl. 

More  or  less  numerous  in  Maryland  during  severe  winters, 
this  species  cannot  at  any  time  be  called  common.  Quite  a 
number  are  on  record  from  all  over  the  state,  but  I  cannot  get 
exact  dates. 

Order  PSITTACI— PARROTS,  ETC. 

Family  PSITTACID^E — Parrots  and  Paroquets. 

Conurus  carolinensis  (382).     Carqlina  Paroquet. 

Originally  well  known  in  tidewater  Maryland,  the  only 
occurrence  for  many  years  is  recorded  as  follows:  aln  Sep- 
tember, '65,  while  gunning  for  Sora  on  the  Potomac  River,  Mr. 
Ed.  Derrick  fired  into  a  flock  of  strange  birds  flying  overhead, 
killing  several  which  proved  to  be  Carolina  Paroquets.  He 
had  one  mounted  and  kept  the  specimen  in  his  house  for  a 
number  of  years.  Other  parties  on  the  marsh  at  the  same  time 
shot  numbers  of  the  birds"  (H.  M.  Smith,  and  Wm.  Palmer, 
Auk,  v,  148). 

Order  COCCYGES — CUCKOOS,  KINGFISHERS,  ETC. 

Family  CUCULIDJE — Cuckoos,  etc. 
Coccyzus  americanus  (387).     Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 

Common  summer  resident,  but  more  often  heard  than  seen. 
Extreme  dates  are  April  28  ('88,  Resler)  and  October  14  ('91, 
Resler).  Nests  with  eggs  have  been  found  from  June  7  ('93, 


310  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

Fisher)  to  August  23  (J91).  As  far  as  I  have  been  definitely 
able  to  note  sets,  they  are  6  of  2,  3  of  3,  and  2  of  4.  I  have 
found  nests  with  all  the  eggs  in  the  same  state  of  incubation 
and  others  with  various  stages,  from  large  young  birds  to  eggs 
in  different  stages  of  incubation.  At  Vale  Summit  they  were 
fairly  common,  on  June  9  ('95)  a  nest  contained  2  fresh  eggs. 

Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus  (388).     Black-billed  Cuckoo. 

A  common  migrant  and  rare  summer  resident.  May  8  ('89, 
Resler)  and  May  21  ('93,  Wholey)  seem  extremes  of  the  spring 
movement,  and  August  4  ('95)  to  October  3  ('93,  Wholey) 
cover  the  fall.  On  September  28  '92,  (Wholey)  "they  were 
the  most  numerous  birds  seen  in  the  woods." 

On  July  7,  '93,  (Gray)  a  nest  with  one  young  bird  and  3 
nearly  incubated  eggs  was  found  at  Calverton,  while  further 
out  the  Franklin  Road,  in  an  overgrown  corner,  two  broods 
were  raised  the  same  year. 

At  Washington  it  is  noted  as  "rare  from  May  2  to  the  middle 
of  October  "  (Richmond).  At  Hagerstown,  noted  in  July,  August 
and  September  ('80),  and  from  May  1 1  to  September  ('81,  Small). 
At  Vale  Summit,  on  June  14,  '95,  I  found  the  nest,  containing 
2  eggs  about  one-half  incubated,  of  the  only  pair  there. 

Family  ALCEDINIDJE — Kingfishers. 
Ceryle  alcyon  (390).     Belted  Kingfisher. 

Abundant  during  spring,  summer  and  fall ;  a  number  winter 
in  tidewater  Maryland  during  mild  seasons,  only  leaving  when 
frozen  out.  The  nest  tunnel,  in  a  bank,  preferably  but  not 
always  over  water,  is  remarkably  close  to  4  inches  in  diameter 
and  usually  about  5  feet  long,  though  I  have  seen  two  of  not 
quite  2  feet  and  one  of  over  10.  As  a  rule  they  go  straight  in 
but  occasionally  they  make  a  bend.  The  nesting  hole  at  the 
end  is  rounded  in  the  shape  of  a  flattened  sphere  and  averages 
16  inches  across  by  8  inches  high.  In  this,  the  first  egg  is  laid 
on  the  bare  ground,  but  by  the  time  the  eggs  hatch  about  a  quart 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  311 

of  loose  fish  scales  and  bones  have  accumulated.  May  9  ('92, 
Blogg),  5  fresh  eggs,  and  May  31  ('92),  one  fresh  egg,  are 
extreme  dates ;  full  sets  are  3  of  6,  and  6  of  7. 

Order  PICI — WOODPECKERS,  ETC. 

Family  PICID^ — Woodpeckers. 
Campephilus  principalis  (392).     Ivory-billed  Woodpecker. 

However  the  distribution  of  this  species  may  have  been,  it  is 
now  very  restricted.  Audubon  says  (iv,  124):  "On  the 
Atlantic  coast  North  Carolina  may  be  taken  as  the  limit  of  its 
distribution,  although  now  and  then  an  individual  of  this  species 
may  be  occasionally  seen  in  Maryland." 

Dryobates  villosus  (393).     Hairy  Woodpecker. 

Resident,  but  not  common,  and,  as  it  is  usually  found  in  heavy 
timber,  appears  much  rarer  than  it  really  is.  On  June  2  ('94, 
Fisher)  a  very  noisy  pair  evidently  had  a  nest,  but  it  was  not 
found  owing  to  lack  of  time.  Young  of  the  year  were  noted 
on  July  10  ('92)  and  on  August  20  ('93).  On  May  8  ('95, 
H.  C.  Oberholzer)  a  pair  were  feeding  young  near  the  Great 
Falls  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  Maryland  side. 

Dryobates  pubescens  (394).     Downy  Woodpecker. 

Common  resident.  Nests  with  eggs  have  been  noted  from 
May  4  ('91)  to  May  22  ('93);  the  set  being  5.  On  June  8  ('84) 
young  were  nearly  ready  to  leave  the  nest,  and  on  July  4  ('93) 
young  not  long  out  of  the  nest  were  seen. 

Dryobates  borealis  (395).     Bed-cockaded  Woodpecker. 

"Pine  swamps  and  barrens  of  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf 
States,  north  to  Pennsylvania"  (Key,  481);  "irregularly  north 
to  New  Jersey"  (Manual,  283).  Dr.  Ezra  Meichner  in  his 
Catalogue  of  Chester  County  Birds,  published  in  1863,  writes, 
"accidental,  very  rare"  (Birds  Pa.,  167). 


312  TRANS  ACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

Sphyrapicus  varius  (402).     Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker. 

Common  during  migrations,  September  27  ('79,  Resler)  to 
October  26  ('94),  and  again  from  March  12  ('92,  Gray)  to 
May  2  ('93,  Fisher).  No  doubt  this  species  winters  in  southern 
Maryland,  as  specimens  have  been  taken  near  Baltimore  on 
November  8  ('84,  Resler);  November  12  ('92,  Gray);  Novem- 
ber 26  ('93);  December  6  ('93,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.);  December 
24  ('92,  Blogg),  and  January  1  ('92,  Resler). 

At  Washington,  "  J.  D.  Figgens  got  one  on  January  14,  '88; 
one  was  shot  February  15,  about  '59,  and  one  was  seen  about 
the  middle  of  January,  '94"  (Richmond). 

At  Hagerstown  they  were  noted  during  January  and  Decem- 
ber, '79;  January,  February,  March,  October,  November  and 
December,  '80,  and  from  January  right  along  to  July,  and  also 
in  October,  '81  (Small).  On  July  6,  '95,  (Tylor)  adults  feed- 
ing young  were  noted  at  Deer  Park. 

Ceophlceus  pileatus  (405).     Pileated  Woodpecker. 

Fairly  common  in  the  heavily  wooded  parts  of  Maryland. 
Early  in  June  '95  a  nest  was  found  by  Mr.  L.  D.  Willis  near 
Church  Creek,  Dorchester  County.  It  contained  3  eggs;  2  nearly 
hatched,  the  other  rotten.  It  measured  2  feet  2  inches  deep  by 
8  inches  in  diameter,  the  entrance  was  5J  inches  across  and  20 
feet  from  the  ground,  in  a  rotten  stub.  November  17  to  22,  '94 
(Fisher),  quite  a  number  were  seen  in  Somerset  County,  and 
one  was  observed  to  enter  a  hole  in  a  stub. 

"Mr.  Palmer  has  3  specimens  bought  in  market  (Washing- 
ton) on  the  9th  of  January,  '79,  which  had  been  shot  in  Mary- 
land, near  the  District  line"  (A.  C.,  81-2).  "Said  to  be  not 
rare  at  Johnson's  Gully,  Maryland,  near  Marshall  Hall,  and 
about  14  miles  from  Washington.  Must  be  quite  common  in 
Virginia,  as  a  market  gunner  brought  me  nine  at  one  time. 
He  would  not  disclose  the  locality,  but  said  it  was  in  Virginia" 
(Richmond).  Quite  a  number  are  exposed  for  sale  in  our 
Baltimore  markets  each  winter,  but  they  are  all  said  to  come 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  313 

from  Pennsylvania.     On  November  7,  '91,  I  saw  one  that  had 
been  shot  in  Carroll  County. 

"The  Indian  hen  used  to  be  common  round  Cumberland,  but 
is  now  very  rare"  (Z.  Laney). 

Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (406).  Bed-headed  Woodpecker. 

This  very  erratic  species,  common  one  year  in  a  certain  locality 
and  the  next  entirely  absent  or  only  in  limited  numbers,  is 
resident,  migratory  or  anything  else,  apparently  at  its  own  sweet 
will.  During  the  severe  winter  of  '92-3  Mr.  "VV.  N.  Wholey 
and  I  had  8  or  10  birds  that  we  went  out  regularly  to  see. 
They  were  resident  in  localities  about  one-half  mile  apart  and 
stayed  all  winter;  one  was  very  noisy,  the  others  were  silent. 
The  following  winter  none  remained.  May  3  ('91)  and  June  19 
('92)  are  extremes  for  eggs.  Sets  are  3  of  5,  1  of  4,  and  1  of  3. 
As  a  rule  they  dig  their  own  holes,  telegraph  poles  being  often 
used,  but  on  May  3,  '91,  I  found  three  fresh  eggs  in  a  hollow 
log  leaning  against  a  fence.  The  entrance  was  15  inches  from 
top  to  bottom  and  4  inches  across,  while  the  cavity  only  went 
down  6  inches. 

At  Washington  "not  very  common  and  local.  It  usually 
spends  the  winter  in  smaller  numbers,  or  else  keeps  more 
secluded"  (Richmond). 

Melanerpes  carolinus  (409).     Ked-bellied  Woodpecker. 

This  southern  species  is  not  common  around  Baltimore. 
Occasionally  noted  from  August  3  ('87,  Resler)  to  May  16  (91, 
Blogg).  "Rather  common  near  Laurel,  where  it  is  a  perma- 
nent resident"  (Richmond).  At  Washington  it  is  given  as  "a 
permanent  resident,  rare"  (A.  C.,  83);  "  very  rare,  Mr.  Hen- 
shaw  saw  an  individual  about  the  last  of  May,  '87"  (C.  W. 
Richmond,  Auk,  v,  21).  In  Queen  Anne's  County  they  were 
quite  numerous  on  March  4  and  5,  '93,  though  there  was  12 
inches  of  snow  on  the  ground,  and  the  thermometer  went  down 
to  8°  during  the  intervening  night. 


314  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

At  Princess  Anne,  Somerset  County,  they  were  rather  com- 
mon from  November  13  to  22  ('94,  Fisher),  and  Mr.  E.  G. 
Polk  writing  from  there,  says:  "They  stay  here  all  summer,  at 
least  until  after  cherries  are  ripe,  as  I  have  shot  a  number  out 
of  the  trees,  where  they  were  stealing  cherries." 

Colaptes  auratus  (412).     Flicker. 

Common  resident,  more  numerous  during  migrations.  April 
28  ('94,  Tylor),  in  Talbot  County,  and  May  12  ('95),  near  Bal- 
timore, to  June  23  ('93),  are  extremes  for  eggs.  Sets  are  1  of 
2,  3  of  5,  4  of  6,  2  of  7,  3  of  8,  1  of  9,  1  of  10,  and  1  of  11. 
Flickers  usually  dig  their  own  holes,  but  they  will  nest  in 
natural  cavities  and  various  other  places;  if  undisturbed,  using 
the  same  site  for  years. 

Order  MACROCHIRES — GOATSUCKEES,  SWIFTS,  HUMMING- 
BIRDS, ETC. 

Family  CAPRIMULGID^J — Nighthawks,  Whip-poor-wills,  etc. 
Antrostomus  carolinensis  (416).     Chuck-will's-widow. 

North,  regularly  in  summer  to  North  Carolina;  in  a  letter  to 
Wm.  H.  Fisher,  Capt.  Crumb  says  he  has  taken  this  species  at 
Cobb's  Island,  Va. 

At  Odenton,  Anne  Arundel  County,  upon  two  occasions  in 
July,  Prof.  P.  R.  Uhler  has  observed  single  birds  of  this 
species,  their  size  making  them  quite  conspicuous  among  the 
Whip-poor-wills  which  were  quite  numerous  there. 

Antrostomus  vociferus  (417).     Whip-poor-will. 

Locally  common  during  summer,  it  was  first  heard  April  9 
('93,  Wholey),  and  on  April  27  (;93,  Fisher)  they  were  com- 
mon, remaining  so  until  September  20  ('91),  the  last  being  noted 
September  28  ('94).  At  Washington,  "to  October"  (Rich- 
mond). 

On  May  5  ('94,  Tylor)  one  fresh  egg  was  found,  and  on 
June  10  ('91,  Fisher)  one  young  bird  a  few  days  old. 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  315 

Chordeiles  virginianus  (420).     Nighthawk. 

About  equally  numerous  and  just  as  local  as  the  Whip-poor- 
will,  from  April  29  ('93,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.)  to  October  15  ('92, 
Blogg).  At  Washington,  April  20  (Richmond).  In  fall,  large 
flocks  migrating  are  noted  from  August  29  ('94)  to  September 
25  ('92,  Wholey).  Nesting  on  the  bare  ground,  this  species  has 
discovered  an  excellent  substitute  in  the  flat  roofs  of  the  houses 
of  Baltimore  City,  where  a  large  number  breed.  On  June  8, 
'91,  one  young  bird  a  few  days  old  was  seen  within  stone's  throw 
of  the  City  Hall,  and  on  July  31,  '94,  two  young  birds  were 
flying  after  their  parents. 

Family  MICROPODID^ — Swifts. 
Chaetura  pelagica  (423).     Chimney  Swift. 

Common  summer  resident  from  April  16  ('91)  to  October  4 
('93);  extreme  dates  are  March  30  ('95,  Blogg)  and  October  17 
('88,  Resler);  at  Hagerstown,  April  6  to  October  16  ('80, 
Small);  at  Cumberland,  April  5  ('95,  Z.  Laney). 

On  May  15  ('92)  a  pair  were  seen  mating,  but  they  were  not 
noticed  breaking  twigs  until  June  3  ('94);  eggs  were  in  nests 
on  June  19  ('81),  and  young  birds  fell  down  the  chimney  on 
August  27  ('93).  Sets  are  2  of  5. 

Family  TBOCHILID^ — Hummingbirds. 
Trochilus  colubris  (428).     Euby-throated  Hummingbird. 

Common  summer  resident;  first  noted  at  Washington  on 
April  28  (Richmond)  and  numerous  around  Baltimore  from 
May  1  ('92,  Resler)  to  September  25  ('92);  the  latest  date  is 
October  3  ('88,  Resler),  when  one  was  perched  on  a  telegraph 
wire  in  the  city,  and  ('90,  Wholey)  when  one  was  taken.  The 
usual  set  of  two  eggs  is  noted  from  June  2  ('93,  J.  H.  Fisher, 
Jr.)  to  July  10  ('92,  Blogg). 


316  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Order  PASSERES— PERCHINGBIRDS. 

Family  TYRANNID^: — Flycatchers. 
Milvulus  forficatus  (443).     Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher. 

"A  Milvulus  probably  M.  forficatus  is  given  in  the  original 
edition  as  having  been  obtained  by  Mr.  C.  Drexler,  on  May  6, 
'81.  We  have  never  been  satisfied  of  the  accuracy  of  the  in- 
formation, even  supposing  veracity  on  the  part  of  our  in- 
formant, and  in  our  remarks  on  Mr.  Jouy's  list,  we  spoke  as  if 
inclined  to  drop  the  species  from  the  list;  but  we  have  no  more 
authority  for  doing  so  than  for  retaining  it,  so  we  make  no 
alteration  in  a  record  which,  unfortunately,  must  always  remain 
dubious"  (A.  C.,  75-6).  One  "was  sent  to  the  Smithsonian 
Institute  by  Mr.  R.  B.  Taylor,  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  .  .  .  shot  on 
January  2,  '82  in  his  door  yard  in  that  city"  (Robert  Ridgway, 
Auk,  viii,'  59).  Under  date  of  May  5,  '93,  Capt.  Crumb  states 
that  he  has  secured  a  specimen  at  Cobb's  Island. 

Tyrannus  tyrannus  (444).     Kingbird. 

Common  summer  resident  from  April  14  ('95),  to  September  15 
(93,  Gray).  On  September  23,  '91,  I  saw  a  single  bird  2  miles 
north  of  Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,  and  at  Hagerstown  they  are  noted 
from  April  13  ('83)  to  October  ('79,  Small).  During  migrations 
they  appear  in  flocks,  sometimes  over  100  being  together,  these 
have  been  noted  from  April  30  ('93)  to  May  3  ('93,  Fisher), 
and  from  August  4  ('95)  to  September  7  ('94).  Extreme  dates 
for  eggs  are  May  31  ('93)  and  July  17  ('92).  On  August  12 
('94),  young  were  still  being  fed.  Sets  are  1  of  1,  1  of  2,  13  of 
3,  and  3  of  4. 

Tyrannus  verticalis  (447).     Arkansas  Kingbird. 

"This  is  a  western  species  added  to  the  list  in  '77,  by  Mr. 
Jouy,  who  found  it  in  the  flesh  in  market  September  30,  '74. 
In  point  of  fact,  it  was  not  actually  got  in  the  District,  but  in 
some  adjoining  portion  of  Maryland.  There  is  no  doubt  about 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  317 

the  bird,  as  the  specimen  is  preserved  in  the  United  States 
National  Museum.  (Smith.  Report,  '74-5,  32.  Jouy's  Catalogue, 
'77,  5  and  11)"  (A.  C.,  76). 

Myiarchus  crinitus  (452).     Crested  Flycatcher. 

Common  summer  resident  from  April  29  ('93,  Gray),  to  Sep- 
tember 2  ('93,  Gray)  ;  extreme  dates  are  April  27  ('93,  Gray), 
and  September  21  ('94).  Eggs  are  recorded  from  June  6  ('91), 
to  July  9  ('93).  Sets  are  1  of  3,  1  of  4,  4  of  5,  and  2  of  6. 

Sayornis  phcebe  (456).     Phcebe. 

Commonfrom  March  18  ('94)  to  October  17  ('94),  quite  a  num- 
ber of  single  birds  have  been  observed  during  the  remainder  of 
the  year.  This  year  ('95),  however,  they  have  been  absent ;  a  few 
were  observed  between  March  31  and  May  13,  after  which  none 
were  seen  until  September  15. 

Extreme  nesting  dates  are  April  8  ('94),  a  nest  ready  for  eggs 
and  July  8  ('94),  eggs  nearly  hatched.  Sets  are  3  of  3,  10  of 
4,  13  of  5,  and  1  of  6. 

At  Hagerstown,  under  date  of  January  26,  '82,  Small  says : 
"Has  probably  -been  with  us  all  winter,  was  seen  December  8 
and  26,  and  January  18,  19,  20  and  21." 

Contopus  borealis  (459).     Olive-sided  Flycatcher. 

Rare  migrant.  "The  claim  of  this  species  to  a  place  in  our 
list  (of  the  District  of  Columbia)  rests  upon  Mr.  Ridgway's  obser- 
vation near  Fall's  Church, Va.,  where  several  birds  were  noticed  in 
September, '81.  Further  west  in  Virginia,  the  species  cannot  be 
considered  very  rare,  individuals  having  been  observed  for  3  or  4 
successive  summers  by  one  of  the  authors,  and  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher 
has  taken  a  specimen  in  the  Bull  Run  mountains"  (H.  M.  Smith 
and  Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  v,  148). 

"Judge  Libhart  states  that  this  species  (probably  15  or  20 
years  ago)  was  found  as  a  breeder  in  Lancaster  County,  where, 
however,  in  recent  years  it  has  been  observed  by  Dr.  Treichler 
only  as  a  rare  spring  and  fall  migrant"  (Birds  Pa.,  194). 


318  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

Contopus  virens  (461).  Wood  Pewee. 
Common  summer  resident ;  first  noted  on  April  25  ('85,  Res- 
ler), when  one  was  taken,  and  numerous  on  May  8  ('94).  A 
number  were  noted  October  15  ('93),  and  two  days  later  ('83, 
Resler)  one  was  taken.  Nesting  dates  range  from  June  8  ('92, 
Blogg),  a  set  of  fresh  eggs  to  September  12  ('92,  Wholey) 
young  birds  not  able  to  fly  far.  Sets  are  1  of  1,  5  of  2,  and  7 
of  3. 

Empidonax  flaviventris  (463).     Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher. 

Migrant,  not  common.  Spring  notes  are  few.  On  May  14 
('93),  a  male  was  taken  and  4  days  later  another,  3  days  after 
which  5  were  seen  (Wholey).  On  May  16  ('83),  and  19  ('93), 
single  birds  were  taken  (Resler).  During  fall  they  are  fre- 
quently recorded  between  August  31  ('93,  Gray)  and  October  6 
('94). 

At  Washington,  a  "  spring  and  fall  migrant  arrives  first  week 
in  May  and  we  have  seen  it  in  the  fall  until  the  third  week  in 
September.  One  shot  July  28,"  (A.  C.,  78)  "migrant  during 
whole  of  May,  and  August  and  September"  (Richmond). 
"Tolerably  common  migrant  near  Washington, 'generally  in  the 
scrub  pines"  (Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  Birds  Vas.,  67).  This  last 
observation  may  account  for  its  not  being  more  frequently  noted 
near  Baltimore,  as  but  a  small  percentage  of  our  local  observa- 
tions have  been  made  among  the  pines. 

Empidonax  virescens  (465).     Acadian  Flycatcher. 

First  noted  on  April  30  ('93,  Wholey),  and  common  from 
May  11  ('94,)  to  August  24  ('94  and  '95,)  the  last  was  recorded 
on  September  11  ('94).  On  May  31  ('91,)  a  nest  was  ready  for 
eggs  and  on  July  30  ('93,  Fisher),  one  contained  eggs  ready  to 
hatch.  Sets  are  28  of  3,  and  1  of  4. 

Empidonax  traillii  alnorum  (6220).     Traill's  Flycatcher. 

Rare  migrant.  On  May  5,  '93  (Resler),  one  was  taken  at  Back 
River,  and  on  May  11,  '93,  (Wholey) another  at  Waverly.  "One 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES.  319 

was  taken  by  the  writer  on  May  13,  '88,  at  the  Potomac  River, 
Alexander  County,  Va.;  another  by  Mr.  Ridgway  on  May  18,  '88, 
at  Laurel,  Maryland,  and  a  third  by  myself  on  May  19,  '88,  in 
Virginia,  opposite  Georgetown.  Several  others  were  subse- 
quently seen  and  observed"  (Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  vi,  71),  "This 
has  always  been  regarded  as  the  rarest  of  the  flycatcher's ;  very 
few  having  been  taken  up  to  the  present  year  ('92).  On  and 
about  May  18  for  several  days  they  were  quite  common  and  a 
number  were  taken"  (E.  M.  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  x,  '93).  "Com- 
mon at  times,  I  saw  several  on  May  23,  '91.  Wm.  Palmer  shot 
one  on  May  10,  '94,  and  another  on  August  27,  '89,  and  I  shot 
one  on  September  17,  '90"  (Richmond). 

Empidonax  minimus  (467).     Least  Flycatcher. 

Rare  migrant,  specimens  have  been  taken  on  April  29  ('93, 
Gray),  on  April  30  and  May  7  ('92,  Pleasants),  on  September  11 
and  25  ('93,  Gray),  and  September  28  ('92,  Resler).  At  Wash- 
ington, "common  from  April  25  to  May  25  and  from  August 
28  to  September  25  "  (Richmond). 

On  Dan's  mountain,  June  5  to  14,  '95,  three  or  four  pairs 
were  mating  in  a  grove  of  heavy  timber. 

Family  ALAUDID^ — Larks. 
Otocoris  alpestris  (474).     Horned  Lark. 

Irregularly  abundant  in  flocks,  which  are  sometimes  quite 
large,  from  November  10  ('94,  Gray),  to  March  19  ('92,  Gray); 
they  are  most  numerous  in  tidewater  Maryland.  At  Washington, 
from  the  first  of  November  to  April  (A.  C.,  41). 

Otocoris  alpestris   praticola  (4746).     Prairie  Horned  Lark. 

This  sub-species  appearing  in  company  with  alpestris  can 
only  be  identified  by  close  comparison  with  a  series  of  specimens. 
One,  of  several  shot  at  Powhatan,  on  February  25  ('93,  Gray), 
was  pronounced  of  this  sub-species  by  Mr.  Ridgway. 


320  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  [1895 

"Two  in  the  collection  of  Wm.  Palmer  have  been  identified 
by  Mr.  Henshaw  as  belonging  to  this  race ;  they  were  taken  in 
February,  '81,  and  were  in  company  with  numbers  of  Otocoris  al- 
pestris.  On  February  16,  '88,  eighteen  specimens  of  this  variety 
were  taken  by  Wm.  Palmer,  near  Washington,  from  a  flock  of 
50  or  60  birds  that  had  been  noted  in  the  vicinity  throughout 
the  winter.  About  half  a  dozen  other  specimens  have  recently 
been  obtained  by  various  collectors  "  (H.  M.  Smith  and  Wm. 
Palmer,  Auk,  v,  148). 

Family  CORVID^: — Crows,  Jays,  etc. 
Cyanocitta  cristata  (477).     Blue  Jay. 

Common  resident.  A  pair  were  mating  on  April  13  (793), 
and  eggs  were  collected,  5  on  May  13  ('82)  and  4  on  May  30 
('94,  Tylor). 

Corvus  corax  principalis  (486).     Haven. 

Now  rare  in  Maryland,  but,  without  doubt,  may  be  credited 
to  our  ocean  front  and  also  to  the  mountains  of  Western  Mary- 
laud.  During  Christmas  week  '92,  about  20  were  seen  at 
Bayard,  W.  Va.,  but  they  could  not  be  approached  within  rifle 
range.  On  December  6,  '93,  several  were  seen  at  the  same 
place  (J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.).  Bayard  is  within  5  miles  of  the 
Potomac.  During  July,  '80,  Ravens  were  found  on  Cobbs, 
Boone  and  Mockhorri  Islands  (Robert  Ridgway,  Auk,  vi,  118). 
Recorded  from  Franklin,  Somerset  and  York  Counties,  Pa., 
(Birds  Pa.,  202).  One  was  taken  at  Hagerstown  in  October, 
'80  (Small). 

Corvus  americanus  (488).     American  Crow. 

An  abundant  resident ;  scattered  over  the  country  in  summer, 
and  gathering  into  large  "roosts"  in  winter.  They  had  started 
roosting  on  October  21  ('94),  and  were  using  it  in  numbers  from 
November  4  ('94)  to  March  24  ('95),  but  I  only  saw  a  few  on 
March  31.  A  nest  with  3  fresh  eggs  on  March  13  ('88, 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  321 

Wholey),  and  another  with  1  fresh  egg  on  May  13  ('82),  are 
extreme  dates.  Young  were  still  in  a  nest  on  June  5  ('92)  and 
a  family  was  still  holding  together  on  August  13  ('93).  Sets 
are  3  of  2,  3  of  3,  18  of  4,  22  of  5,  1  of  7,  and  1  of  10. 
On  Dan's  Mountain  I  only  saw  5  or  6  crows  from  June  5  to 
14  ('95). 

Corvus  ossifragus  (490).     Fish  Crow. 

Resident  in  tidewater  Maryland.  Five  eggs  nearly  incu- 
bated were  taken  at  Gunpowder  on  May  21  ('93,  Fisher),  5  in 
the  same  condition  on  May  26  ('92),  and  a  fresh  egg,  5  days 
later,  were  collected  in  Queen  Anne  County.  On  June  8  ('94), 
5  eggs,  about  to  hatch,  also  1  fresh  egg  were,  noted  at  Ocean 
City.  This  last  nest  was  only  8  feet  from  the  ground  in  an 
alder  bush  (Alnus  maritima),  the  others  were  all  in  the  tops  of 
high  trees. 

Family  ICTERID^E — Blackbirds,  Orioles,  etc. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (494).     Bobolink  • 

Common  migrant  from  April  28  ('95)  to  May  26  ('95),  and 
from  August  9  ('94)  to  November  8  ('88,  Resler).  Usually 
observed  in  the  uplands  in  spring,  they  are  also  numerous  there 
in  the  fall,  while  the  marshes  are  alive  with  them.  In  April, 
'95,  seven  were  shot  from  a  flock  at  Cumberland  by  Z.  Laney. 

Molothrus  ater  (495).     Cowbird. 

Resident ;  wintering  in  tidewater  Maryland,  they  are  seldom 
seen  in  the  uplands  until  spring  (March  12,  '92,  Gray),  when  they 
become  numerous,  but  the  majority  soon  go  north,  and  during 
summer  their  presence  is  chiefly  shown  by  the  alien  egg  in  the 
small  bird's  nest.  In  fall,  however,  flocks  of  any  number  up 
to  300  or  400  are  frequently  seen  between  September  16  ('94) 
and  November- 19  ('94).  On  November  11,  '94,  I  came  across 
an  enormous  flock  of  birds,  10,000,  or  more;  they  entirely  cov- 
ered a  25-acre  field.  Careful  investigation  with  a  field  glass 
showed  about  equal  numbers  of  Cowbirds  and  Red-winged 
Blackbirds. 


322  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Extreme  nesting  dates  are  May  21  ('93),  when  2  eggs  were 
in  a  Robin's  nest  with  3  of  the  owners,  and  August  25  ('95), 
when  a  young  bird  was  being  fed  by  Indigo  Birds.  As  a  rule, 
only  one  egg  is  found  in  a  nest  in  Maryland ;  the  only  instance 
of  more,  beside  the  one  mentioned  above,  that  I  know  of,  is  3  in 
a  Wood  Thrush's  nest  with  one  of  the  owners,  found  in  Talbot 
County  on  July  25,  '95  (Tylor). 

Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  (497) .     Yellow-headed 
Blackbird. 

Near  Baltimore  specimens  of  this  western  bird  have  been 
taken  as  follows  :  On  September  10,  '91  a  male  was  shot  from 
a  flock  of  Red-winged  Blackbirds  feeding  in  a  wild  oat  marsh 
near  Curtis  Bay  by  Mr.  Otto  Nickel,  who  presented  it  in  the 
flesh  to  A.  Resler,  in  whose  collection  it  now  is.  On  September 
18,  '93,  a  female  was  shot  from  a  bunch  of  Blackbirds  at 
Patapsco  marsh  by  Richard  Cantler;  this  I  secured  for  the 
Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences.  On  October  1,  '94,  Mr. 
Edwin  Schenck  got  another  female  at  Patapsco  Marsh  ;  it  was 
flying  by  itself.  This  one  had  the  feathers  removed  by  an 
over-active  cook. 

"A  female  was  brought  me  on  August  29,  '92,  that  was 
killed  from  a  flock  of  Blackbirds  on  the  marshes  adjoining 
Washington.  This  is  the  first  record  for  the  District  of 
Columbia"  (E.  M.  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  x,  92). 

Agelaius  phoeniceus  (498).     Red-winged  Blackbird. 

Resident  in  tidewater  Maryland,  but  not  found  in  the 
uplands  during  winter.  Nesting  among  the  reeds,  grass  or 
bushes  of  swamps  or  wet  meadows,  I  was  rather  surprised  when 
a  nest  was  found  in  a  wild  aster  on  top  of  a  hill  and  fully  a 
mile  away  from  the  nearest  piece  of  swamp  and  one-eighth  of  a 
mile  from  the  run.  On  May  13  ('94,  Tylor)  eggs  were  found 
in  Talbot  County;  near  Baltimore,  from  May  18  ('90)  to  July 
26  ('81).  Sets  are  1  of  1,  10  of  2,  44  of  3,  30  of  4,  and  3 
of  5.  At  Vale  Summit  I  only  noted  a  single  female  on  June 
13,  '95. 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  323 

Sturnella  magna  (501).     Meadowlark. 

Common  resident;  numerous  in  flocks  in  spring  and  fall.  On 
May  10  ('91,  Wholey)  2  fresh  eggs  were  found  and  on  July 
21  ('95)  5  fresh.  Sets  are  1  of  4,  5  of  5,  and  1  of  6. 

Only  a  few  at  Vale  Summit,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Icterus  spurius  ("06).     Orchard    Oriole. 

Common  summer  resident.  First  noted  at  Washington  on 
April  25  (Kichmond);  at  Hagerstown,  April  30  ('79,  Small),  at 
Knoxville,May  4  ('94,  Fisher),  and  at  Baltimore,  May  5  ('95), 
while  on  May  7  ('93),  they  were  common.  They  leave  as  soon 
as  the  young  are  able  to  go  with  them,  and  but  few  individuals 
are  seen  after  August  4  ('95) ;  the  last  on  September  8  ('95). 

Eggs  are  noted  from  May  30  ('93),  to  July  12  ('83).  Sets 
are  2  of  3,  2  of  4,  and  3  of  5. 

Only  one  pair  was  at  Vale  Summit,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Icterus  galbula  (507).     Baltimore  Oriole. 

Locally  common  during  summer.  On  April  29  ('93,  Gray) 
both  males  and  females  were  observed,  but  that  they  arrive 
earlier  is  shown  by  a  pair  having  started  to  build  on  May  2  ('91). 
They  are  numerously  recorded  until  September  8  ('95),  a  few 
until  October  6  ('94). 

At  Waverly  a  pair  started  to  build  on  May  2  ('91),  and 
finished  the  nest  on  May  14.  The  year  before  they  did  not 
start  until  the  15th,  and  the  nest  was  finished  on  the  21st;  both 
were  placed  quite  close  together  and  within  20  feet  of  the  ve- 
randa. On  June  7  ('82)  a  nest  contained  2  fresh  eggs ;  on 
June  23  ('95)  young  were  in  a  nest,  while  flying  birds  were 
still  being  fed  on  July  21  ('95). 

At  Hagerstown  they  were  noted  on  April  27,  '80,  on  May 
12  they  were  building,  and  on  the  18th  they  had  eggs  (Small). 
At  Vale  Summit,  June  5  to  14,  '95,  they  were  numerous,  the 
nests  containing  either  eggs  or  small  young. 


324  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Scolecophagus  carolinus  (509).  Busty  Blackbird. 
Very  common  during  migration  ;  quite  a  number  winter  in 
tidewater  Maryland.  First  noted  in  a  large  flock  on  September 
30  ('94),  the  last  were  taken  May  7  ('88,  Kesler).  As  a  rule, 
they  unite  with  flocks  of  Cowbirds,  Red -winged  Blackbirds  or 
Purple  Grackles,  but  sometimes  they  are  seen  in  flocks  by 
themselves. 

Quiscalus  quiscula  (511).     Purple  Grackle. 

Resident ;  it  takes  remarkably  severe  weather  to  drive  this 
species  from  tidewater  Maryland  in  winter.  In  the  uplands 
they  are  numerous  from  March  1  ('95)  to  July  20  (?95)  and 
not  uncommon  until  early  in  November.  Nests  with  eggs  are 
recorded  from  April  28  ('94,  Tylor)  in  Talbot  County  and  from 
May  6  ('92)  in  Baltimore  County,  until  June  8  ('84).  Sets  are 
2  of  2,  5  of  3,  5  of  4,  13  of  8,  and  4  of  6.  Nesting  any- 
where, a  bunch  of  cedars  seems  to  be  preferred.  The  nest  is 
usually  placed  in  a  crotch,  but  other  situations  are  frequently 
chosen,  notably  the  spaces  in  the  rough  sides  of  the  Fish 
Hawk's  nest.  On  May  14,  '81,  I  found  one  in  a  hollow  of  a 
tree  not  seven  feet  from  the  ground,  and  on  May  22,  '92, 
another  in  a  partially  torn  out  Flicker  hole.  In  '91-2-3, 
they  nested  inside  the  barn  on  the  Hampden  property,  in  Dula- 
ney's  Valley,  placing  their  nests  on  the  rafters  and  roof-sill 
(J.  H.  Pleasants,  Jr.,). 

Quiscalus   quiscula   aeneus    (5116).     Bronzed  Grackle. 

"Occasionally  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  from  Virginia  north- 
ward "  (Manual,  380).  "  Mr.  Ridgway  notes  for  us  '  several  speci- 
mens seen'  but  considers  it  'rare.'  Mr.  Wm.  Palmer  notes  one  in 
his  possession  shot  by  Lewis  McCormick  at  Fall's  Church,  Va., 
and  several  obtained  by  Henry  Marshall,  at  Laurel,  Md.,"  (A. 
C.,  73).  One  was  shot  in  Prince  George's  County,  by  Fred. 
Zeller,  (Smith.  Report,  '86,  665),  and  another  at  Laurel,  Md.,  by 
George  Marshall  (Ibid.  724). 


1895]  MARYL<A.ST>    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  325 

"  Little  more  than  a  straggler,  and  individuals  passing  through 
here  hardly  remain  to  breed.  However,  I  have  a  male  shot 
April  6,  '86,  a  date  when  ordinary  quiscula  is  nesting,  and  a  fe- 
male shot  April  2,  ;87,  about  the  time  ordinary  quiscala  are 
laying  their  first  eggs  "  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  v,  19). 

I  have  a  male  taken  on  March  1,  '95,  in  Dulaney's  Valley, 
and  careful  investigation,  at  short  range  with  a  field  glass  on 
March  10,  17,  24  and  31,  showed  that  about  J  of  each  flock  of 
Grackle's  were  referable  to  this  race.  On  April  21,  '95,  at 
least  one  male  was  observed. 

Quiscalus  major  (513).     Boat-tailed  Grackle. 

This  species  nests  in  the  stunted  pines  and  alder  bushes 
(Alnus  maritima)  that  grow  on  our  ocean  beach,  where  nests  have 
been  found  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Dirickson,  of  Berlin,  and  on  July  7, 
'92,  Mr.  W.  N.  Wholey  found  a  colony  near  Ocean  City,  the 
nests  containing  young  of  different  ages;  a  deserted  one,  however, 
held.  3  rotten  eggs.  In  June,  794,  I  visited  this  locality  and 
found  the  bushes  burned  down  ;  between  Delaware  and  Virginia 
I  did  not  see  a  single  grackle. 

On  May  6,  '93,  one  was  with  a  flock  of  Purple  Grackles  at 
Townsend  Street  just  west  of  Fulton  Avenue  (Gray),  and  on 
May  17,  '93,  one  was  noted  at  North  Point. 

A  small  colony  was  found  at  Smith's  Island,  Va.,  where 
they  were  breeding ;  eggs  and  small  young  being  found,  May 
16-24,  '94  (Richmond). 

Family  FRINGILLID^E — Finches,  Sparrows,  etc. 

Pinicola  enucleator  (515).  Pine  Grosbeak. 
I  can  find  no  reference  to  this  species,  except  that  Dr.  Coues 
says :  "  Northern  border  of  United  States  in  winter,  sometimes 
south  to  Maryland"  (Key,  343).  "An  extremely  rare  and 
probably  only  accidental  visitor  in  severe  winters  "  (A.  C.,  56). 
"  Occasionally  to  Maryland"  (Birds  N.  Yf.,  105).  "  We  have 
no  recent  records,  and  the  old  ones  are  mere  traditions — i.  e.,  we 
have  no  precise  dates  or  records  of  specimens"  (Richmond). 


326  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

Carpodacus  purpureus  (517).     Purple  Finch. 

Common  in  flocks  during  winter,  they  were  exceedingly 
numerous  round  Baltimore  during  the  severe  season  of  '92-3. 
Extreme  dates  are  October  1  ('90,  Resler)  and  May  31  ('93, 
Fisher).  At  Washington  it  is  given  as  "common  in  migra- 
tions, less  so  in  mid-winter.  One  was  shot  September  17  (?87), 
by  H.  W.  Henshaw.  I  saw  a  flock  at  Great  Falls,  Md.,  on 
September  24-5  ('89),  and  one  was  shot  on  May  13  ('85),  by 
Dr.  H.  M.  Smith"  (Richmond). 

"Not  known  at  Hagerstown  until  May  3,  '83,  when  they 
swarmed  in  the  town  "  (Small). 

Passer  domesticus.     English  Sparrow. 

The  first  English  Sparrows  brought  to  this  country  were  8  pairs, 
liberated  in  Brooklyn  in  the  spring  of  '51,  but  nothing  is  known  of 
what  became  of  them.  Two  years  later,  100  were  liberated  there  and 
the  importation  was  kept  up  for  80  years,  the  birds  being  liberated 
at  widely  different  points  of  the  country,  2500  or  more  birds  being 
introduced. 

"In  June,  '74,  a  few  birds  were  brought  to  Baltimore  by  an  Eng- 
lish Captain  and  liberated  in  Franklin  Square.  These  are  the  first 
birds  we  have  any  knowledge  of  that  came  to  Baltimore  direct" 
(Baltimore  American,  August  31,  '93).  At  the  following  points  in 
Maryland  they  introduced  themselves,1  and  were  noted  in  the  fol- 
lowing order  : 

'65    Hancock.  '77*  Mechanicstown. 

'68    Cumberland.  '77*  Union  Bridge. 

'70    Williamsport.  '78*  Frostburg. 

'72*  Manchester.  '78*  Lonaconing. 

'75*  Boonsboro.  '78    Middletown. 

'75*  Oakland.  '78*  Sharpsburg. 

'76*  Clearspring.  '79*  Burkettsville. 

'76*  Hagerstown.  '79*  Emmettsburg. 

'76*  New  Windsor.  '79*  Sandy  Springs. 

'76*  Smithsburg.  '80    Grantsville. 

'76*  Taneytown.  '80    Salisbury. 
'76*  Westminster.  *  About. 

iFor  a  full  account  of  the  introduction,  etc.,  of  the  English  Sparrow, 
see  "The  English  Sparrow  in  North  America,"  by  W.  B.  Barrows,  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Economic  Ornithology 
and  Mammalogy,  Bulletin  No.  1, 1889. 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  327 

Now  they  are  all  over  the  State  and  here  to  stay,  being  common  in 
the  cities  and  towns,  while  there  is  scarcely  a  house  in  the  country 
without  more  or  less  of  them  round  it.  In  Baltimore  City  they  are 
frequently  seen  building  in  the  winter;  these,  I  believe,  are  only 
roosting  nests.  On  May  17  ('91)  eggs  about  one-half  incubated 
were  taken,  and  on  August  16  ('91)  birds,  just  hatched,  were  found. 
Sets  are  2  of  2,  2  of  3,  9  of  4,  7  of  5,  and  2  of  6. 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor  (521).     American  Crossbill. 

Very  irregular  in  its  movements ;  I  have  only  observed  this 
species  once.  On  November  11,  '94,  about  25  were  feeding  on 
the  cones  of  a  small  scrub  pine,  at  the  north  end  of  Dulaney's 
Valley;  they  were  quite  wild,  and  did  not  remain  ten  minutes; 
when  flushed,  they  flew  clear  out  of  sight. 

At  Lawyer's  Hill,  Howard  County,  about  a  half  mile  from 
Relay,  in  March,  '90,  Mr.  C.  Gamble  Lowndes  found  "a  flock 
of  about  40  in  a  small  bunch  of  pines;  firing  into  them,  two 
came  to  the  ground  dead,  and  several  others,  also  dead,  hung 
from  the  branches  by  their  bills  or  claws,  so  that  they  were 
dislodged  with  difficulty.  The  others  were  all  killed  during  a 
week  with  a  small  rifle,  and  were  quite  good  eating.  At  night 
they  roosted  in  a  small  ravine  filled  with  pines  and  scrub  oaks, 
and  they  spent  the  entire  day  in  the  clump  of  pines." 

On  January  16,  '91,  one  was  taken  at  Bush  River,  by  Mr. 
Basil  Sellers.  Late  in  October,  '89,  two  were  shot  out  of  a 
flock  of  about  20  in  Talbot  County  (Tylor).  At  Cumberland 
"  it  is  seldom  seen ;  some  years  ago  I  killed  one  out  of  a  flock 
with  a  cane  "  (Z.  Laney). 

"  On  May  23,  '84,  Mr.  Geo.  Marshall  shot  two,  male  and 
female,  from  a  flock  of  five,  near  Laurel,  Md.  The  female  showed 
unmistakable  evidence  of  having  recently  incubated.  Two  days 
later  another  male  was  shot  in  the  same  locality"  (Smith. 
Report,  '84,  146). 

"On  May  17,  '85,  an  adult  male  and  a  young  bird  in  the 
striped  feather,  barely  able  to  fly,  were  seen  by  me  in  a  pine 
sapling,  a  short  distance  beyond  the  city  (Washington)  limits  " 
(Hugh  M.  Smith,  Auk,  ii,  379). 


328  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

"For  a  long  time  regarded  as  extra  rare  and  irregular  in 
winter;  in  December,  '87,  they  were  numerous  at  Washington, 
and  every  local  collector  secured  a  series.  Individuals  were 
caught  alive  in  the  Smithsonian  grounds  and  in  the  Agricultural 
Department  Park  ;  they  were  seen  until  April  19,  '88.  In  the 
following  winter  they  were  rather  rare.  In  '90,  again  they 
were  uncommon,  but  remained  until  late,  individuals  and  flocks 
being  noted  on  May  10,  16,  17,  21  and  24.  Specimens  taken 
on  some  of  these  dates  showed  no  signs  of  breeding.  I  have 
few  records  for  '91,  '92  or  '93,  except  that  Mr.  Bidgway,  who 
lives  at  Brookland,  D.  C.,  near  an  extensive  patch  of  pines, 
observed  them  all  summer  in  small  numbers,  and  still  reports 
them  up  to  June,  '95.  In  the  past  winter,  '94-5,  Mr.  Figgins 
reported  them  common  near  Kensington,  Md.,  flocks  appearing 
at  short  intervals  throughout  the  winter.  He  mentions  seeing 
hundreds  on  March  24 ;  his  last  date  is  April  7,  when  about  a 
dozen  were  seen.  Mr.  R.  S.  Matthews  and  I  saw  two  small 
flocks  late  in  April  '95  "  (Richmond). 

Loxia  leucoptera  (522).     White-winged  Crossbill. 

"South  in  winter  to  or  beyond  40°  "  (Manual,  393).  Audu- 
bon  mentions  having  secured  a  specimen  "  in  Maryland  a  few 
miles  from  Baltimore"  (iii,  191),  and  Mr.  Henry  Marshall 
has  one,  shot  at  Laurel  about  '74  (A.  C.,  57). 

Acanthis  linaria  (528).     Redpoll. 

"  Rare  and  irregular,  perhaps  only  an  occasional  visitant  in 
severe  winters"  (A.  C.,  57).  One  specimen,  a  female,  was 
taken  by  Dr.  T.  H.  Bean  at  Fort  Runyon,  Va.,  on  February 
19,  '75"  (Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  xi,  333).  Audubon  says  (iii, 
121):  "I  have  seen  several  that  were  obtained  near  Baltimore, 
Md." 

Spinus  tristis  (529).     American  Goldfinch. 

Common  resident;  they  commence  flocking  by  the  middle  of 
September  and  hold  together  until  early  in  June.  On  April 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  329 

30  (793),  however,  I  saw  an  early  pair  mating,  the  male  being 
in  nearly  full  summer  plumage.  While  no  doubt  they  nest 
earlier,  the  first  note  I  have  is  of  a  pair  building  on  July  12 
('91),  the  latest  date  is  September  9  ('94),  four  fresh  eggs. 
Sets  are  1  of  3,  3  of  4,  2  of  5,  and  1  of  6.  At  Yale  Summit 
they  were  not  numerous  and  still  in  flocks  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Spinus  pinus  (533).     Pine  Siskin. 

Irregular  winter  visitor,  usually  found  among  the  pines. 
On  November  24,  '92,  quite  a  large  flock  was  near  St.  Mary's 
Industrial  School;  on  January  29,  '93,  a  flock  of  about  20  was 
at  St.  George's  Avenue,  and  on  March  1,  '79  (Resler),  a  number 
were  at  Bayview. 

At  Washington,  "  very  abundant  some  winters  between  Octo- 
ber and  April ;  at  times,  several  years  will  pass  without  one  being 
seen"  (Richmond). 

Plectrophenax  nivalis  (534).     Snowflake. 

Irregular  winter  visitant  in  cold  seasons.  On  February  6,  '92 
(Gray),  a  flock  of  eight  was  seen  at  Calverton ;  on  February 
10,  '95,  two  were  noted  on  the  Falls  Turnpike  near  Melvale, 
and  on  the  same  day  (Fisher)  two  were  seen  on  the  drive  round 
Druid  Hill  Park  lake. 

One  specimen  has  been  taken  at  Washington  (Richmond). 

Calcarius  lapponicus  (536).     Lapland  Longspur. 

"South  in  winter  to  northern  United  States,  sometimes  (rarely) 
as  far  as  South  Carolina"  (Manual,  404).  On  February  10, 
'95,  just  after  the  blizzard,  all  our  roads  being  impassable  to 
vehicles,  I  walked  out  to  Lake  Roland.  At  the  point  where 
the  Northern  Central  Railroad  crosses  the  Falls  Turnpike  a 
small  part  of  the  bank  had  been  cleared  of  snow  by  the  wind, 
on  this  were  about  20  Longspurs,  with  8  or  10  Song  Sparrows 
and  about  25  Tree  Sparrows.  They  allowed  me  to  approach 
within  three  feet. 


330  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  [1896 

"On  December  11,  '86,  while  Dr.  Fisher  and  I  were  riding 
along  the  road  to  Falls  Church,  Va.,  and  distant  from  Wash- 
ington perhaps  four  miles,  we  saw  a  flock  of  15  or  20  Horned 
Larks  by  the  roadside.  Scattered  through  the  flock  were  half 
a  dozen  or  more  Longspurs,  one  of  which  was  secured.  Com- 
paratively little  collecting  has  ever  been  done  about  Washington 
in  winter,  and  to  this  fact,  rather  more  than  to  its  excessive 
rarity,  is  due,  I  am  persuaded,  the  absence  of  the  species  from 
the  local  lists.  Although  probably  not  a  regular  migrant,  the 
species  occurs  here  in  small  numbers,  I  am  inclined  to  believe, 
every  hard  winter.  However,  it  is  to  be  remarked  that  the 
records  for  this  bird  so  far  south  are  very  few  "  (H.  W.  Hen- 
shaw,  Auk,  iv,  347). 

Poocaetes  gramineus  (540).     Vesper  Sparrow. 

Resident;  abundant  during  migrations  from  March  20  ('92,) 
,to  May  23  ('93,  Wholey),  and  from  September  22  ('95)  to 
December  2  ('94).  During  summer  they  are  not  very  com- 
mon, and  only  a  few  winter  with  us.  On  June  19  ('90,  J.  H. 
Fisher,  Jr.)  3  slightly  incubated  eggs  were  taken.  At  Hagers- 
town  it  is  given  as  "not  common;  occasionally  seen  in  June, 
July,  September  and  October "  (Small).  At  Vale  Summit  on 
June  11,  '95,  I  found  one  pair  feeding  young  just  out  of  the 
nest. 

Ammodramus  princeps  (541).     Ipswich  Sparrow. 

"Breeding  on  Sable  Island,  N.  S.;  in  winter  migrating  along 
the  Atlantic  coast  south  to  Virginia."  (Manual  407).  "Winter 
resident  along  the  New  Jersey  coast;  not  abundant,  though  prob- 
ably regular."  9  specimens  are  recorded  between  November 
16  ('80)  and  April  3  ('89)  (Birds,  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  112-3). 

"  Those  who  care  to  visit  in  winter  the  bleak,  wind-swept 
sand  hillocks  of  our  Atlantic  coast  will  find  this  bird  much  less 
rare  than  it  was  once  supposed  to  be"  (Chapman  291). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  331 

Ammodramus  sandwichensis  savanna  (542a).     Savanna 

Sparrow. 

Fairly  common  migrant,  some  possibly  wintering ;  noted  from 
October  6  ('95,)  to  November  9  ('92,  Eesler),  and  from 
March  18  ('91,  Resler)  to  May  12  ('92,  Pleasants).  At  Wash- 
ington "  4  were  noted  on  October  14,  '94,  (J.  D.  Figgins  and 
Wm.  Palmer) ;  a  few  winter "  (Richmond).  At  Hagerstown 
"quite  common  during  the  fall  migration  of  '80"  (Small). 
No  doubt  it  winters  along  our  sea-coast  for  "  at  Cape  May 
and  probably  all  along  the  coast  of  southern  New  Jersey  the 
Savanna  Sparrow  is  an  abundant  winter  resident "  (Birds,  E. 
Pa.  and  N.  J.,  113). 

Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus  (546).     Grasshop- 
per Sparrow. 

A  few  wintering;  this  species  is  common  from  April  10  ('95, 
Fisher)  until  November  4  ('94).  It  is  usually  flushed  from  the 
ground,  but  during  the  breeding  season  it  mounts  on  a  weed  or 
even  to  the  top  of  a  fence  to  sing  the  very  peculiar  song  from 
which  it  derives  its  name. 

Although  very  numerous  in  the  breeding  season,  the  nest  is 
seldom  found,  it  being  placed  on  the  level  ground  in  the  open 
field.  Young  out  of  the  nest  were  being  fed  on  June  4  ('93), 
and  on  August  11  ('94)  birds  4  or  5  days  old  were  in  a  nest. 
Sets  are  3  of  3,  and  3  of  4. 

Common  at  Washington  from  March  30  ('95)  to  October  21 
('87,  Richmond).  At  Vale  Summit  a  number  were  observed 
June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Ammodramus  henslowii  (547).     Henslow's  Sparrow. 

"  Known  from  this  region  for  many  years,  this  has  been  con- 
sidered one  of  the  rarest  sparrows,  although  always  found  in 
one  or  two  localities.  On  May  30,  '92,  while  exploring  John- 
son's Gully,  Maryland,  16  miles  south  of  Washington,  a  large 
colony  was  found"  (E.  M.  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  x,  92).  "Not 


332  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

uncommon  in  several  localities  near  Washington.  At  Kensing- 
ton, Maryland,  where  it  is  rather  common,  Wm.  Palmer  found 
a  nest  with  young  on  June  1,  '94,  and  J.  D.  Figgrns  shot  2  on 
October  14,  '94.  It  is  also  rather  common  at  Laurel,  where,  on 
April  10,  '89,  Mr.  Bidgway  shot  a  male"  (Richmond)  and  Geo. 
Marshall  secured  specimens  on  May  4  and  21,  and  August 
11,  '94.  In  Howard  County,  specimens  were  taken  on  April 
17,  and  August  3,  '93  (Resler). 

Ammodramus  caudacutus  (549).     Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

"  Abundant  summer  resident  on  the  salt  marshes  along  the 
New  Jersey  coast  and  for  some  distance  up  the  shores  of  Dela- 
ware Bay.  Mr.  I.  N.  DeHaven  finds  a  few  '  sharp-tails ' 
nearly  every  winter  on  the  Atlantic  City  meadows,  but  they  are 
by  no  means  common  at  this  season  "  (Birds,  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J., 
114). 

On  June  7,  '94,  I  found  a  number  along  the  beach  some 
miles  south  of  Ocean  City,  Maryland. 

Ammodramus  caudacutus  nelsoni  (549a).     Nelson's 
Sharp-tailed   Sparrow. 

"  Fresh  water  marshes  of  the  Eastern  United  States,  and  dur- 
ing migrations,  to  marshes  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  Massachusetts 
to  South  Carolina"  (Manual,  413).  "  Rare  transient  on  the  New 
Jersey  coast,  though  probably  of  regular  occurrence.  The  least 
common  of  the  three  races  of  Sharp-tailed  Sparrows  on  our  coast, 
it  will  probably  be  found  to  be  more  abundant  in  fall  than  in 
spring.  Specimens  have  been  secured  May  9  and  October  2, 
'92,  by  Mr.  I.  N.  DeHaven  "  (Birds,  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  115). 

In  Virginia  the  following  specimens  have  been  taken,  "  one 
by  C.  Drexler  in  September,  '62,  another  by  E.  J.  Brown,  at 
Cobb's  Island  on  May  11,  '92,  and  a  third  by  myself  on  4  mile 
Run  marsh,  Alexandria  County,  on  September  18,  '93,"  (Wm. 
Palmer,  Auk,  xi,  333). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  333 

Ammodramus  caudacutus  subvirgatus  (5496).    Acadian 
Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

"  Was  found  associated  with  the  other  two  races  at  Atlantic 
City  on  October  2,  '92,  and  a  number  of  specimens  shot.  It 
appeared  to  be  more  numerous  than  nelsoni  but  less  so  than  true 
caudacutus.  This  species  apparently  winters  further  south,  for 
all  the  winter  specimens  so  far  taken  by  us  in  New  Jersey  were 
caudacutus.  Doubtless  more  careful  search  will  show  the  nelsoni 
and  subvirgatus  to  be  of  regular  occurence  in  both  migrations" 
(Witmer  Stone,  Auk,  x,  85)."  Regular  transcient  visitor  on  the 
New  Jersey  coast  marshes"  (Birds,  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  114). 

Ammodramus  maritimus  (550).     Seaside  Sparrow. 

"Abundant  summer  resident  on  the  New  Jersey  coast  marshes 
and  on  the  shores  of  Delaware  Bay,  arrives  at  Atlantic  City 
about  April  20  and  departs  October  15.  In  Cape  May  County, 
Mr.  W.  L.  Baily  secured  several  specimens  February  22,  '92, 
which  would  indicate  that  a  few  of  these  birds  winter  there  oc- 
casionally" (Birds,  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  115).  Between,  May  14 
and  28,  '94,  at  Smith's  Island,  Va.,  they  were  "breeding  and 
quite  numerous,  we  secured  43  specimens  of  this  bird."  (E.  J. 
Brown,  Auk,  xi,  259).  "  On  Smith's  Island  I  found  3  nests 
May  18,  '94,  with  4,  5,  and  5  eggs  and  on  May  23,  '94,  another 
with  4  eggs  "  (Richmond). 

On  May  27, '93,  I  came  accross  a  pair  of  these  birds,  one  of 
which  I  secured,  bat  careful  search  failed  to  find  the  nest.  They 
were  in  a  marsh  on  Start's  Point,  between  Chester  River  and 
Langford's  Bay,  in  Kent  County.  On  June  6,  '94,  I  found  a 
nest  with  5  eggs  nearly  hatched,  on  our  ocean  front  quite  close 
to  the  Virginia  line,  where  they  were  rather  common. 

Chondestes  grammacus  (552).    Lark  Sparrow. 

This  bird  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  occasionally  strays  to  the 
Atlantic  coast.  "  Up  to  date,  our  knowledge  of  the  occurrence 
of  the  Lark  Finch  in  the  neighborhood  of  Washington  is  limited 


334  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

to  the  capture  of  a  single  .specimen  by  Mr.  Roberts,  on  August 
25,  '77  (at  Fort  Runyon,  on  the  Viginia  side  of  the  Long  Bridge, 
A.  C.,  66),  and  the  observation  of  2  individuals  in  the  Smith- 
sonian grounds  by  Mr.  Ridgway  (on  August  27,  '77,  Auk,  iii, 
43).  To  the  above  is  to  be  added  the  capture  of  a  second  speci- 
men, an  adult  male,  on  August  8,  '86,  by  the  writer"  (H.  W. 
Henshaw,  Auk,  iii,  487). 

Zonotrichia  leucophrys  (554).     White-crowned  Sparrow. 

Regular,  though  not  common,  migrant  from  October  7  ('94) 
to  October  23  ('92),  and  from  May  6  ('93  and  '94,  Wholey) 
to  May  21  ('92,  Gray),  and  on  the  same  day  at  Sandy  Springs 
(Stabler).  At  Washington,  "from  October  13  ('93),  when  several 
were  seen  by  H.  W.  Henshaw  and  A.  K.  Fisher,  to  November  25 
('88),  when  one  was  shot  by  J.  D.  Figgins,  and  from  the  middle 
of  April  to  May  17  ('86),  when  one  was  shot  out  of  a  flock  of 
about  a  dozen"  (Richmond). 

Zonotrichia  albicollis  (558).     White-throated  Sparrow. 

Winter  resident;  common;  more  numerous  during  migrations. 
Noted  from  September  21  ('93,  Gray),  and  common  from  Sep- 
tember 29  ('95)  to  May  13  ('92),  the  latest  record  being  May  19 
('95),  when  two,  a  male  and  female,  were  found  in  a  brush  pile 
in  Dulaney's  Valley,  and  some  years  ago  one  was  taken  on  the 
same  date  by  Mr.  A.  Resler.  At  Washington  "one  was  shot 
on  September  15  ('89),  and  they  were  common  from  September 
30  ('90,  '94)  until  May  20  ('88),  when  one  or  two  were  noted 
and  a  male  was  shot  by  W.  F.  Roberts.  On  May  21  ('86)  one 
was  shot  and  ('88)  several  were  heard  singing  "  (Richmond). 

Spizella  monticola  (559).     Tree  Sparrow. 

Equally  numerous  during  winter  with  the  "  Snowbird,  "  this 
species  is  not  so  commonly  observed,  as  it  does  not  come  round 
the  house,  preferring  the  briar  and  weed  patches.  On  October 
7  ('94)  I  found  it  common  in  flocks  with  Snowbirds ;  and  on 


1895]  MAKYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  335 

April  29  ('94)  quite  a  number  were  in  a  flock  with  Field  and 
Chipping  Sparrows.  At  Washington  "from  late  in  October  to 
early  in  April "  (Richmond). 

Spizella  socialis  (560).     Chipping  Sparrow. 

First  noted  on  March  16  ('94),  and  common  from  March  25 
('94)  to  November  27  ('92),  8  or  10  were  seen  on  December  2 
('94),  and  about  a  dozen  on  December  4  ('92).  At  Washington, 
"  some  spend  the  winter,  but  not  in  numbers  sufficient  to  be 
detected  every  season.  On  March  12  ('90,  J.  D.  Figgins)  four 
were  seen.  Common  from  the  end  of  March  to  November  24 
('89),  one  was  seen  on  December  14  ('90)"  (Richmond).  Mating 
on  April  22  ('94),  the  first  nest  with  eggs  was  found  on  May 
10  ('91),  the  last  on  August  28  ('92),  and  on  September  16  ('94) 
young  just  out  of  the  nest  were  observed.  Sets  are  2  of  2,  27 
of  3,  and  14  of  4. 

At  Hagerstown  their  arrival  is  noted  on  March  30;  '79,  March 
18,  '80,  and  March  21,  '81.  Under  date  of  April  15,  '83,  is  the 
following :  "  Has  any  one  ever  noted  the  Chippy's  fondness 
for  the  sap  of  the  grape  vine?  They  make  a  regular  habit  of 
drinking  large  quantities  when  the  vines  have  been  trimmed  in 
spring.  Do  they  do  this  for  water,  or  for  any  nourishment  there 
is  in  the  sap?  I  rather  think  the  latter,  as  they  drink  too  much 
for  simply  quenching  their  thirst"  (Small). 

Only  a  few  at  Vale  Summit,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Spizella  pusilla  (563).     Field  Sparrow. 

This  is  our  most  common  breeding  sparrow,  being  exceedingly 
numerous  from  March  to  November.  During  mild  winters,  a 
number  stay  with  us,  and  even  during  the  cold  winter  of  '92—3 
a  flock  was  seen  on  December  4,  about  20  on  January  4,  and  a 
single  bird  on  January  22.  At  Washington  it  is  noted  as  "a 
common  regular  winter  as  well  as  a  summer  resident"  (Rich- 
mond). Nests  with  eggs  are  noted  from  May  8  ('91)  to  August 
16  ('91).  Sets  are  5  of  2,  22  of  3,  and  15  of  4. 

At  Vale  Summit  they  were  not  common,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 


336  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Junco  hyemalis  (567).     Slate-colored  Junco. 

A  winter  resident;  first  noted  on  September  28  ('93,  Gray); 
it  was  common  on  September  30  ('94),  but,  as  a  rule,  they  do  not 
become  numerous  until  the  middle  of  October,  remaining  so 
until  April  23  ('93,  Fisher),  the  last  is  recorded  on  May  1  ('74, 
Resler.  '92).  At  Washington  "from  September  30  ('94), 
when  several  were  seen  by  Messrs.  Figgins  Matthews  and  Palmer, 
to  April  27  ('90),  when  several  were  seen.  On  May  1  ('87), 
one  was  seen  and  on  May  4  (' — )  one  was  shot "  (Richmond). 

Junco  hyemalis  shufeldti  (567&).     Shufeldt's  Junco. 

A  western  bird.  "  On  April  28,  '90,  my  son,  A.  W.  Ridg- 
way,  shot  a  female  of  this  sub-species  near  Laurel,  Maryland. 
It  was  shot  out  of  a  small  flock  in  which,  my  son  thinks,  were 
others  of  the  same  kind,  but  he  may  have  been  mistaken " 
(Robt.  Ridgway,  Auk,  vii,  289). 

Melospiza  fasciata  (581).     Song  Sparrow. 

Common  resident;  liable  to  be  heard  singing  at  any  time, 
even  in  the  depth  of  our  most  severe  winters.  Nesting  dates 
range  from  May  3  ('91,  Wholey),  5  fresh  eggs,  to  September 
11  ('92),  when  young  leave  a  nest.  Sets  are  1  of  2,  5  of  3,  13 
of  4,  and  8  of  5.  Situations  of  nests  noted  show  8  built  up 
from  the  ground  in  bushes,  etc.,  7  on  level  ground  in  grass,  and 
8  in  hollows  in  the  sides  of  banks,  while  one  was  in  the  side  of 
a  haystack  (Fisher). 

At  Hagerstown,  Small  says,  "one  pair  has  lived  in  our  yard 
and  built  two  nests  each  year ;  averaging  from  8  to  10  feet 
above  the  ground  ;  the  lowest  was  4  feet  up,  and  one  was  fully 
25  feet  up  in  a  western  vine  growing  against  the  house.  Cow- 
bird  eggs  were  twice  deposited,  when  all  the  eggs  were  thrown 
out  and  they  started  to  build  a  new  nest  the  next  day.  Twice, 
one  of  this  pair  was  killed,  but  a  few  days  later  the  survivor 
secured  a  mate." 

Only  a  few  were  seen  at  Vale  Summit,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  337 

Melospiza  lincolni  (583),     Lincoln's  Sparrow. 

"  In  the  Atlantic  states  it  is  apparently  rare ;  in  the  course  of 
all  my  collecting  I  never  saw  it"  (Birds,  N.  W.,  136).  L.  M. 
McCormick  mentions  2  specimens  obtained  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  without  date  (Auk,  i,  397).  "  Mr.  Henshaw  collected 
on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  3  specimens  in  May,  '85. 
Wm.  Palmer  has  taken  2  birds ;  and  Mr.  Bidgway  has  noted 
this  species  on  several  occasions  near  Laurel,  Md.  (Auk,  v,  148). 
"On  May  7,  ?92,  J.  D.  Figgins  got  one  at  Kensington,  Md.,  on 
May  12,  '87,  R.  Ridgway  got  one  at  Gainesville,  Va.,  and  on 
May  18,  '84,  H.  W.  Henshaw  got  one,  the  first  on  record  for  the 
District  of  Columbia,  Wm.  Palmer  shot  one  on  September  30, 
'94,  and  Robert  Ridgway  shot  one  on  October  18,  '89,  at 
Laurel"  (Richmond). 

Melospiza  georgiana  (584).     Swamp  Sparrow. 

Occasionally  noted  during  winter,  and  common  from  Sep- 
tember 30  ('94)  to  November  11  ('94),  and  again  from  April 
8  ('93,  Gray)  to  April  29  ('94) ;  extreme  dates  are  September 
16  ('94)  and  May  12  ('94,  Wholey).  At  Washington,  "from 
September  28  ('90)  to  the  last  of  October,  when  they  sometimes 
swarm  in  suitable  places;  a  few  winter,  and  in  April  they  again 
become  common,  the  last  being  noted  on  May  16  ('88)  "  (Rich- 
mond). 

"  Resident ;  though  much  more  abundant  during  the  migra- 
tions than  at  other  times.  The  Swamp  Sparrow  breeds  on  the 
marshes  of  Tinicum  Township,  Delaware  County,  Pa.,  and  in 
other  similar  situations,  but  seems  to  be  rather  locally  distributed 
during  the  breeding  season  in  southern  Pennsylvania  "  (Birds, 
E.  Pa.  andN.  J.,118). 

Passerella  iliaca  (585).     Fox  Sparrow. 

9 

Common  during  migrations,  from  October  21  ('94)  to  Decem- 
ber 16  ('94),  and  from  February  13  ('92,  Gray)  to  April  23 
('92,  Gray),  a  few  occasionally  wintering.  On  November 


338  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

5,  '93,  I  saw  between  400  and  500  in  Dulaney's  Valley,  one  of 
which  gave  me  a  wild  burst  of  song.  At  Washington,  recorded 
"  from  October  18  ('94)  to  April  15  ('94).  Two  were  shot  on 
April  21  at  Laurel,  by  Geo.  Marshall"  (Richmond)  ;  noted  at 
Hagerstown  in  May,  'SO,  and  also  "a  few  all  winter"  (Small). 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (587).     Towhee. 

Common  summer  resident,  occasionally  wintering.  Noted 
from  March  8  ('94)  to  November  13  ('92),  and  common  from 
April  2  ('93)  to  October  21  ('92);  nests  with  eggs  range  from 
May  13  ('94),  to  August  28  ('91,  Fisher).  Sets  are  8  of  3,  and 
3  of  4.  Six  nests  were  on  the  ground,  the  others  elevated,  the 
highest  being  6  J  feet  up  in  a  cedar. 

During  the  severe  winter  of  792-3,  Mr.  W.  N.  Wholey  and 
I  watched  a  flock  from  December  8  to  February  14,  seeing  it  3 
or  4  times  a  week.  Neither  of  us  could  ever  count  the  flock; 
sometimes  there  seemed  more,  sometimes  less,  but  we  estimated 
it  to  average  about  50  birds.  There  was  snow  on  the  ground 
all  this  time  and  the  temperature  went  down  as  low  as  1°,  and 
for  over  a  month  the  maximum  kept  below  32°  (Fahrenheit). 

In  Somerset  County  they  were  numerous  from  November  15 
to  21  ('94,  Fisher). 

At  Vale  Summit  they  were  common,  June  5  to  14  ('95). 

Cardinalis  cardinalis  (593).     Cardinal. 

Resident,  old  birds  generally  seen  in  pairs,  the  young  (pre- 
sumably) going  in  flocks  in  fall  and  winter,  occasionally  a  few 
pairs  of  adults  may  be  found  quite  near  each  other.  Nesting 
dates  range  from  May  3  ('92,  Wholey),  a  nest  ready  for  eggs,  to 
August  18  ('83),  3  eggs.  Sets  are  1  of  2,  17  of  3,  and  1  of  4. 

Habia  ludoviciana  (595).     Rose-breasted  Grosbeak. 

A  migrant,  seen  at  irregular  intervals  and  not  to  be  procured 
every  year;  it  has  been  fairly  well  noted  from  April  28  ('93, 
Resler)  to  May  20  ('76,  Resler)  and  from  September  11  ('80, 
Resler)  to  September  25  ('93,  Gray). 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  339 

"  A  regular  migrant  at  Washington,  not  rare,  but  of  irreg- 
ular abundance  from  May  3  ('91  and  '92)  to  May  16  ('88  and 
'90)  and  from  August  29  ('87),  when  Mr.  R.  Ridgway  shot  one 
at  Gainesville,  Va.,  to  September  28  ('89)"  (Richmond). 

On  Dan's  Mountain,  in  Alleghany  County,  I  found  2  pairs, 
one  located  at  Pompey  Smash,  the  other  about  a  mile  distant  at 
Lauertown.  Morning  and  evening,  from  June  5  to  14,  '95, 
both  the  males  could  be  heard  singing.  On  June  8,  I  found 
the  nest  of  the  Pompey  Smash  pair;  it  contained  a  young  bird 
not  24  hours  old  and  2  infertile  eggs.  On  the  14th  I  again 
visited  this  nest;  on  being  disturbed  the  young  one  scrambled 
out  of  the  nest  and  fell  to  the  ground ;  I  replaced  it  and  hope 
it  arrived  at  maturity,  and  will  live  to  a  green  old  age. 

Guiraca  caerulea  (597).     Blue  Grosbeak. 

This  large  sized  edition  of  the  Indigo  bird  seems  to  nest 
more  or  less  regularly  in  southern  Maryland,  Washington  being 
about  its  northern  limit,  where  it  is  noted  as  "  rather  rare,  from 
first  week  of  May  to  middle  of  September"  (A.  C.,  68). 
"  During  the  summer  of  '87  a  pair  nested  twice  on  my  father's 
farm,  about  a  half-mile  east  of  the  District  of  Columbia.  On 
June  24  I  took  the  first  nest  and  4  eggs  from  the  fork  of  a  peach 
tree,  about  7  feet  up.  ...  In  August  evidently  the  same 
birds  nested  in  a  small  cedar.  I  have  observed  them  every  sea- 
son since,  but  have  found  no  more  nests "  (A.  B.  Farnham, 
Oologist,  viii,  219-20). 

At  Washington  "  a  male  was  seen  on  June  30,  '89 ;  a  pair, 
male  and  female,  were  taken  by  Wm.  Palmer  on  August  15, 
'92,  and  several  were  seen  and  one  shot  on  September  19,  '86. 
At  Kensington,  Md.,  a  nest  was  found  early  in  June  '95,  by 
J.  D.  Figgins,  and  another  with  4  eggs  was  found  at  Laurel 
about  June  10,  '95,  by  Geo.  Marshall  "  (Richmond).  One  was 
taken  in  Howard  County,  on  July  29,  '93  (Resler).  On 
August  3,  '91,  a  pair  were  seen  feeding  flying  young  on  the 
Windsor  Road,  about  a  half-mile  this  side  of  Powhattan  (Gray 


340  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

and  Blogg).     At  Hagerstown  "  a  male  with  testes  as  large  as 
peas  was  shot  by  A.  J.  Jones  on  May  23,  '82  "  (Small). 

Passerina  cyanea  (598).     Indigo  Bunting. 

Common  summer  resident;  first  noted  on  April  30  ('92,  Gray) 
and  common  from  May  2  ('93)  to  September  30  ('94);  the  last 
was  taken  on  October  5  ('87,  Resler).  At  Washington,  "noted 
on  April  29  ('94,  Currie,  Preble  and  Hasbrouck) ;  it  was  still 
common  on  September  30  ('90,  '94),  while  one  was  found  on 
October  15  ('90);  and  on  December  13  ('87)  Mr.  M.  M.  Green 
shot  one,  it  was  '  fat  and  healthy '  "  (Richmond). 

A  nest  ready  for  eggs  on  May  25  ('90)  contained  3  on  June 
1,  and  on  August  29  ('91) ;  a  brood  of  young  left  a  nest  on 
being  disturbed.  Sets  are  1  of  1,  5  of  2,  17  of  3  and  5  of  4. 

At  Yale  Summit  they  were  common,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Spiza  americana  (604).     Dickcissel. 

"A  summer  resident.  This  bird  used  to  arrive  regularly 
about  the  first  of  May,  and  leave  towards  the  end  of  September, 
meanwhile  being  very  abundant.  .  .  .  Now,  however,  the 
birds  seem  to  have  forsaken  us,  few,  if  any,  having  been  heard 
for  the  past  few  years"  (A.  C.,  67).  " Extremely  rare ;  this 
bird  is  said  to  have  been  abundant  formerly,  but  it  appears  to 
have  withdrawn  almost  entirely  from  this  vicinity.  A  male, 
seen  by  Mr.  Henshaw  about  the  last  of  May,  '87,  was  very 
likely  nesting  "  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  v,  22).  "At  Jefferson, 
Maryland,  Mr.  J.  D.  Figgins  got  one  on  August  4,  '90,  and  2 
more  the  next  day"  (Richmond). 

The  case  seems  to  be  paralleled  near  Baltimore.  I  have 
been  several  times  told  of  its  former  abundance,  and  how  easily 
it  was  taken  with  bird-lime.  The  only  late  item,  however,  is 
"on  May  7,  '92,  near  Wyndhurst  Avenue,  on  the  Baltimore  and 
Lehigh  Railroad  track,  I  heard  a  strange  bird  song;  locating 
it,  I  saw  a  male  Black- throated  Bunting,  it  was  in  plain  sight 
and  identification  is  positive"  (Wholey).  Specimens  were  taken 
by  Mr.  Resler  on  May  20,  '76,  June  10,  '76  and  October  2, 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  341 

'80,  at  Back  River.    At  that  time  they  were  quite  common,  and 
no  special  attention  was  paid  to  them. 

Family  TANAGRIDJE — Tanagers. 
Piranga  erythromelas  (608).     Scarlet  Tanager. 

Summer  resident ;  generally  dispersed,  but  local  and  not  very 
common.  Noted  from  May  4  ('92,  Resler)  to  October  7  ('93, 
Pleasants).  At  Washington  "from  April  25  (795)  to  October 
7  ('88,  W.  T.  Roberts)"  (Richmond). 

Nests  with  eggs  are  noted  from  June  2  ('88,  J.  H.  Fisher, 
Jr.)  to  July  18  ('93,  Pleasants),  while  in  Howard  County  three 
fresh  eggs  were  collected  on  August  1  ('92,  Resler).  Sets  are 
2  of  3  and  3  of  4. 

Only  a  single  pair  at  Vale  Summit,  June  8,  '95. 

Piranga  rubra  (610).     Summer  Tanager. 

Summer  resident ;  about  as  numerous  as  the  last  species,  noted 
at  Washington  from  April  28  ('94,  Richmond)  and  at  Balti- 
more from  April  30  ('93,  Blogg)  to  September  12  ('93,  Gray). 
Eggs  are  recorded  from  June  7  ('93,  Wholey)  to  July  10  ('93, 
Bloggs).  Sets  are  4  of  3  and  1  of  4. 

In  '90-1-2,  Scarlet  Tanagers  occupied  a  piece  of  open  woods 
back  of  our  house  in  Dulaney's  Valley ;  in  '93,  there  were  no 
Scarlet  Tanagers,  but  several  pairs  of  Summer  Tanagers;  in 
'94,  no  Tanagers  appeared;  but  this  year  ('95),  four  or  five 
pairs  of  both  species  spent  the  summer,  some  of  them  nesting 
quite  close  to  the  house.  Both  species  have  been  more  numer- 
ous this  year  than  I  have  known  them  before. 

*   Family  HIRUNDINID^E — Swallows. 

Progne  subis  (611).     Purple  Martin. 

Common  summer  resident.  First  noted  in  Kent  County  on 
March  30  ('95,  Fisher),  and  in  Baltimore  County  from  April  2 
('93)  to  October  15  ('93).  In  spring  they  are  generally  first 
observed  at  the  bird  boxes,  these  they  leave  as  soon  as  the  young 


342  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

are  able  to  go  with  them,  the  latest  date  being  August  27  ('94), 
when  only  one  pair  was  left.  On  July  28  ('95),  6  were 
in  a  small  dead  tree  in  Dulaney's  Valley ;  as  there  were  only 
one  adult  male,  this  family  presumably  had  started  to  migrate. 
In  this  same  tree  on  August  12  ('94),  at  10.40  A.  M.,I  saw  18 
(3  adult  males)  all  sound  asleep,  with  their  heads  under  their 
wings.  On  being  flushed  by  a  knock  on  the  tree  they  flew 
round  for  a  few  minutes  and  returning,  settled  themselves  again, 
evidently  played  out  from  a  long  migration  flight  At  Bay 
Ridge,  towards  dusk,  on  August  18  ('95),  quite  a  large  number 
flew  south  in  an  uneven  but  regular  column. 

On  May  18  ('92)  a  box  held  8  nests  in  various  stages  of 
construction,  from  just  started  to  ready  for  eggs,  and  on  May 
29  ('94)  another  had  21,  ranging  from  just  started  to  having 
the  complete  set  of  5  eggs,  while  as  late  as  July  9  ('95,  Hen- 
ninghouse)  3  fresh  eggs  were  taken.  Sets  are  3  of  5.  Usually 
nesting  in  the  boxes  put  up  for  them,  on  June  12,  '94,  I  found 
nests  with  young  under  the  eaves  of  cottages  at  Ocean  City. 
At  Washington  they  formerly  nested  in  the  tops  of  the  columns 
of  the  Treasury  Building,  now  "  in  crevices  of  the  Post  Office 
Department  Building  and  the  Masonic  Temple"  (Richmond). 
At  Bay  Ridge,  on  June  28,  '93,  several  pairs  were  nesting 
in  the  hoods  of  electric  lamps  (Gray).  At  Cumberland  on 
June  4,  '95,  I  found  them  in  the  electric  lamps,  and  also  in 
cornices  of  buildings. 

Petrochelidon  lunifrons  (612).     Cliff  Swallow. 

Summer  resident,  extremely  local  and  not  common;  but  a 
colony  may  locate  their  nests  under  the  eaves  anywhere,  occupy 
them  any  number  of  summers,  then,  without  apparent  cause, 
leave,  sometimes  coming  back  after  one  or  more  years.  First 
seen  on  April  16  ('93),  when  26  were  flying  in  a  loose  flock; 
the  last  were  also  seen  in  a  loose  flock  on  September  3  ('93). 
At  Washington,  September  12  (A.  C.,  52).  Nesting  dates  range 
from  June  7  ('82),  five  fresh  eggs,  to  July  23  ('93),  when 
young  birds  were  still  in  nests.  On  July  22  ('93),  however, 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES.  343 

1  saw  quite  a  number  on  the  telegraph  wires,  young  and  old, 
ready  to  go  south.     Sets  are  1  of  1,  1  of  2,  2  of  3,  1  of  4,  1 
of  5. 

Chelidon  erythrogaster  (613).     Barn  Swallow. 

This,  our  swallow  proper,  is  an  exceedingly  numerous  sum- 
mer resident,  there  being  scarcely  a  barn  or  out-building  that 
has  not  its  swallow  nests  on  the  rafters.  First  noted  on  April 
3  ('80,  Resler),  on  the  15th  (?93)  they  were  numerous,  remaining 
so  until  September  20  ('90,  Resler).  Birds  congregated  on  the 
telegraph  wires,  ready  to  migrate,  have  been  seen  as  early  as 
July  5  ('94).  Nesting  dates  range  from  May  29  ('81),  slightly 
incubated  eggs,  to  August  9  ('93),  small  young  birds.  Sets 
are  1  of  1,  4  of  3,  6  of  4,  and  10  of  5.  At  Washington  they 
were  noted  March  30  ('90),  and  nests  with  1  and  2  eggs  were 
found  on  May  16  ('86,  Richmond).  At  Hagerstown  on  March 
20,  '80  (Small). 

A  small  colony  was  at  Vale  Summit  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Tachycineta  bicolor  (614).     Tree  Swallow. 

Sparingly  distributed  along  the  shores  of  tidewater  Maryland 
in  summer,  this  species  may  be  seen  anywhere  during  migra- 
tions, when  it  is  abundant.  Noted  from  March  30  ('92,  Resler) 
to  October  17  ('94,  Resler);  quite  a  large  number  were  flying 
south  in  a  loose,  desultory  manner  over  Ferry  Bar  on  August 
12  ('95).  At  Washington  it  is  recorded  from  "  March  30  ('90), 
to  October  14  ('94),  when  there  must  have  been  a  wave  of  them, 
as  Wm.  Palmer  got  one  and  saw  several  at  Kensington,  Md.; 
Geo.  Marshall  saw  one  at  Laurel,  Md.,  and  R.  Ridgway  saw 

2  or   3    at    Gainesville,   Va."  (Richmond).     On    October  14; 
'94,  there  was  quite  a  large  number   in   Dulaney's    Valley. 
Several  were  seen  at  Harper's  Ferry,  April  8,  '87,  by  F.  L. 
Washburn  (Birds  Vas.,  77).     At  Hagerstown   in  September, 
'82,  and  May,  '83  (Small).     Nests  with   eggs  are  noted  from 
May  12  ('94,  Fisher)  to  July  3  ('93,  Blogg).     Sets  are  1  of  4, 
2  of  5,  and  1  of  6. 


344  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Clivicola  riparia  (616).     Bank  Swallow. 

Common  summer  resident.  Quite  a  number  were  at  Loch 
Raven  on  April  14  ('95),  but  they  were  down  the  necks  earlier, 
for  on  April  19  ('95,  Fisher),  at  Gunpowder,  a  new  hole  had 
been  dug  about  a  foot  deep  and  two  others  a  few  inches.  The  last 
birds  were  noted  September  12  ('85,  Resler).  At  Washington, 
from  April  25  ('86,  '94)  to  September  15  ('90,  Richmond). 
On  July  17,  '91,  a  large  number,  possibly  between  3000  and 
4000  were  on  a  ducking  blind  at  the  mouth  of  Back  River ; 
they  kept  up  an  incessant  twitter  and  were  evidently  ready  to 
leave  for  their  winter  home.  May  12  ('91),  slightly  incubated 
eggs,  and  July  17  ('92),  young  birds,  are  extreme  nesting  dates. 
Sets  are  3  of  2,  2  of  3,  3  of  4,  3  of  5,  2  of  6,  and  2  of  7. 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  (617).     Kough-winged  Swallow. 

Summer  resident,  but  not  as  numerous  as  the  Bank  Swallow. 
Observed  at  Washington  April  8  ('92,  R.  Ridgway,  Auk,  ix, 
307),  at  Baltimore,  April  19  ('79,  Resler) ;  the  last  recorded  at 
Washington  was  shot  on  September  3  ('94,  Richmond).  Sets  of 
eggs,  noted  from  May  13  ('83)  to  June  15  ('84),  are  2  of  4,  1 
of  5,  1  of  6,  and  1  of  7.  "  Numbers  of  these  birds  breed  along 
the  Potomac  River  in  crevices  of  the  rock;  ...  a  nest  of 
7  eggs  found  during  June,  '87,  contained  six  eggs  of  this 
species  and  one  of  the  Barn  Swallow"  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk, 
v.  23).  At  Hagerstown,  Small  says  (?80-'81),  "the  Bank 
and  Rough-winged  Swallows  are  about  equally  common." 

Family  AMPELID^: — Waxwings. 
Ampelis  cedrorum  (619).     Cedar  Waxwing. 

Resident,  roving  in  flocks  all  the  year,  from  which,  in  their 
leisurely  manner,  a  pair  will  detach  themselves  and  go  to  house- 
keeping, generally  in  July  or  August.  Eggs  are  noted  from 
June  17  ('92,  Blogg)  to  August  21  ('92).  At  Yale  Summit 
a  nest  had  5  fresh  eggs  on  June  11  ('95).  Sets  are  1  of  3, 
2  of  4,  and  4  of  5. 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  345 

Family  LANIID^ — Shrikes. 
Lanius  borealis  (621).      Northern  Shrike. 

Probably  a  regular,  though  rare  winter  visitor.  On  October 
26,  '87,  one  was  taken  on  Patapsco  Marsh  (Resler);  December  2, 
'94,  one  in  Dulaney's  Valley;  January  10,  '93,  one  at  Bay 
View  (A.  Wolle);  February  11,  '92,  one  at  Powhattan  (Gray) ; 
February  19,  '93,  one  was  seen  in  Dulaney's  Valley,  and  on 
February  25,  '93,  one  was  seen  just  west  of  the  city  (Gray). 
At  Washington,  "  one  was  shot  on  December  26,  '87 ;  another 
on  January  10,  '91,  and  one  on  February  10,  '46.  Numbers  of 
others  have  been  taken"  (Richmond). 

Lanius  Ludovicianus  (622).     Loggerhead  Shrike. 

A  common  resident  in  the  south  Atlantic  States,  wandering 
north  in  winter.  Near  Baltimore  single  birds  are  numerously 
recorded  from  August  26  ('92,  Blogg)  to  April  23  ('93,  Gray), 
and  near  Washington  from  "August  11  ('89)  to  April  6  ( — )  ; 
dozens  have  been  reported,  mostly,  however,  in  midwinter" 
(Richmond).  At  Hagerstown  "only  seen  a  few  times.  One 
was  seen  in  May  eating  a  large  beetle  under  the  spruce  in  our 
yard,  and  one  was  noted  in  December,  '80"  (Small). 

Family  VIREONID^] — Vireos. 
Vireo  olivaceus  (624).     Red-eyed  Vireo. 

Very  common  summer  resident.  First  noted  on  April  23 
('93);  a  week  later  they  were  numerous  everywhere,  remaining 
so  until  October  6  ('94),  the  latest  date  being  of  a  single  bird 
on  October  11  ('93).  At  Washington  "from  April  22  ('91) 
to  October  14  ('94,  Palmer  and  Figgins),  specimens  were  taken 
— one  on  October  17,  '90;  four  on  October  30,  '94  (Palmer  and 
Figgins),  and  one  on  November  11,  '88  (Figgins)"  (Richmond). 

Nests  with  eggs  range  from  June  8  ('85)  to  July  31  ('93), 
while  young  birds  not  long  out  of  the  nest  and  still  being  fed 
by  the  parents  were  seen  on  September  4  ('92).  Sets  are  11  of 
2,  29  of  3  and  3  of  4. 


346  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Vireo  philadelphicus  (626).     Philadelphia  Vireo. 

"Not  very  common  in  the  Atlantic  States"  (Key,  332). 
"  A  regular  but  rather  rare  spring  and  fall  migrant,  arriving 
here  late  in  April  or  early  in  May ;  after  the  20th  of  May  it  is 
seldom  seen  in  Pennsylvania  until  it  migrates  southward  in 
September"  (Birds  Pa.,  264).  "A  very  rare  migrant;"  10 
specimens  are  recorded  between  September  11  ('80)  and  October 
6  ('91)  (Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  J.,  126).  "  One  taken  on  the 
Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  near  Washington,  on  May  17,  '88" 
(Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  vi,  74).  "Win.  Palmer  also  got  one.  or 
two  additional  ones,  and  J.  D.  Figgins  shot  one  on  September 
16,  '94,  at  Kensington,  Md."  (Richmond). 

Vireo  gilvus  (627).     Warbling  Vireo. 

Of  local  distribution,  in  some  parts  of  Maryland  it  is  a  sum- 
mer resident,  but  near  Baltimore  I  have  only  found  it  as  a 
migrant.  On  May  5,  '82  (Resler),  one  was  taken,  the  only 
spring  note.  In  '94  I  found  it  quite  numerous  in  Druid  Hill 
Park  on  August  21,  22  and  24,  and  again  on  October  4  and  6, 
but  not  between  times.  At  Washington  it  is  "  a  summer  resi- 
dent, not  very  common,  from  April  28  ('89)  to  September  10." 
Mr.  Figgins  found  it  very  common  at  Kensington,  Md.,  on 
August  23,  '94  (Richmond). 

At  St.  Michael's,  Talbot  County,  on  June  15,  '94,  a  pair 
were  very  lively  in  a  shade  tree.  At  Hagerstown,  "  the  Red- 
eye and  Warbling  Vireos  are  to  be  heard  all  through  the  long 
summer  days  ;  they  both  breed  in  town,  but  the  Warbling  is 
decidedly  the  most  common,  staying  with  us  from  the  first  week 
of  May  to  October"  (Small).  In  Cumberland,  on  June  4,  '95, 
quite  a  number  were  in  the  shade  trees. 

Vireo  flavifrons  (628).    Yellow-throated  Vireo. 

Regular,  but  not  very  common  summer  resident,  more  numer- 
ous during  migrations.  Noted  from  April  13  ('90,  Pleasants) 
to  October  6  ('94).  In  Dorchester  County  they  were  numerous, 


1895]  MABYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  347 

and  specimens  were  taken  on  April  6,  '93  (R.  C.  Waiters). 
"A  common  summer  resident  at  Washington,  from  April  20 
to  the  middle  of  September.  Wm.  Palmer  found  a  nest  with 
3  small  young  on  June  1,  '94"  (Richmond).  On  May  27  ('93, 
Blogg)  a  nest  held  3  half -incubated  eggs;  on  June  15  ('93, 
Fisher)  one  contained  young  birds,  and  on  June  19  ('92,  Wholey) 
one  had  4  eggs  ready  to  hatch. 

Vireo  solitarius  (629).     Blue-headed  Vireo. 

A  regular  migrant,  not  common.  Noted  from  April  19  ('93, 
Resler  and  Wholey)  to  May  11  ('93,  Pleasants),  and  from  Sep- 
tember 26  ('94,  Resler)  to  October  22  ('92,  Gray).  During 
spring  single  birds  are  usually  seen ;  in  fall,  small  parties  of  4 
or  5.  At  Washington  "not  uncommon  in  migrations,  April  13 
('88,  Hasbrouck)  to  May  10  ('85)  and  October  8  ('88)  to  October 

26  ('90)"  (Richmond).     At  Hagerstown  "a  few  were  seen  in 
the  spring  migrations ;  they  had  a  decided  partiality  for  some 
climbing  roses,  and  were  very  unsuspicious"  (Small). 

Vireo  noveboracensis  (631).     White-eyed  Vireo. 

Common  summer  resident  from  April  22  ('91,  Resler)  to 
September  23  ('94).  At  Washington  "from  April  12  ('90)  to 
October  12  ('90)"  (Richmond).  Nesting  notes  range  from  May 

27  ('95,  Fisher),  2  fresh  eggs,  to  August  6  ('93),  2  birds  about 
two-thirds  grown.     Sets  are  1  of  2,  3  of  3  and  1  of  4. 

While  the  nest  is  usually  placed  near  water,  or  in  a  swampy 
place,  on  July  4,  '94,  I  found  a  nest  containing  young  nearly 
ready  to  fly,  on  top  of  a  high,  dry  hill,  fully  J  of  a  mile  from 
the  nearest  spring. 

Family  MNIOTILTID^E — Wood  Warblers. 

Mniotilta  varia  (636).     Black  and  White  Warbler. 

First  noted  on  April  15  ('93,  Gray; '95,  Resler),  and  numerous 

on  April  23  ('92,  '93).     Gradually  thinning  out  as  the  breeding 

season  comes  on,  it  is  again  abundant  from  early  in   August  to 


348  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

September  16  ('94),  after  which  it  is  occasionally  noted  until 
October  9  ('89,  Kesler).  At  Washington  «  from  April  8  ('88) 
to  October  18  ('92)"  (Richmond).  The  nest,  being  placed  on 
the  ground,  is  seldom  found;  those  noted  are:  May  16  ('91, 
Blogg),  3  eggs  nearly  hatched  ;  June  1  ('89,  Blogg),  4  birds 
and  a  rotten  egg;  July  4  ('92),  3  birds  a  few  days  old. 

On  Dan's  Mountain  they  were  very  common.  On  June  5, 
95,  I  found  a  nest  with  5  nearly  fresh  eggs ;  it  was  placed  in  a 
crevice,  about  4  feet  up  the  perpendicular  face  of  Dan's 
Rock,  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 

Protonotaria  citrea  (637).     Prothonotary  Warbler. 

"Rare  or  casual  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Georgia" 
(Manual,  484).  One  was  seen  on  May  2,  '61,  near  Washington 
(A.  C.,  42.)  "On  May  17,  '88,  near  Laurel,  Mr.  P.  L.  Jouy 
and  I  noticed  a  Prothonotary  Warbler,  and  later,  when  we  were 
in  company  with  Geo.  Marshall,  another  (or  possibly  the  same 
one)  was  seen,  but  we  failed  to  secure  either"  (R.  Ridgway). 
On  August  25  '95, 1  saw  2  in  Dulaney's  Valley ;  they  were 
fussing  with  one  another  and  allowed  of  quite  close  approach. 
"  On  May  11,  '94,  an  adult  male  was  taken  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Va., 
by  E.  M.  Hasbrouck"  (Richmond),  and  Captain  Crumb  has 
taken  one  at  Cobb's  Island  (letter  to  W.  H.  Fisher). 

Helmitherus  vermivorus  (639).     Worni-eating  Warbler. 

Sparingly  resident,  from  May  2  ('90,  Gray)  to  September  10 
('92,  Resler).  At  Washington  "from  April  29  ('88,  Hasbrouck), 
it  remains  throughout  most  of  September"  (Richmond);  at 
Hagerstown  to  September  19  ('79,  Small).  On  June  7  ('85)  a 
nest  held  4  eggs  slightly  incubated ;  on  June  25  ('93)  4  birds 
were  nearly  ready  to  fly ;  on  July  2  ('93,  Wholey)  a  nest  was 
ready  for  eggs;  on  July  4  ('91)  adults  were  feeding  young 
barely  out  of  the  nest,  and  on  August  15  ('91,  Gray),  a  pair 
were  leading  full  grown  young.  At  Washington  it  has  been 
found  nesting  along  Rock  Creek,  where  on  May  31,  '85,  a  nest 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  349 

with  6  well  incubated  eggs  was  found,  and  on  June  14,  '85, 
and  June  5,  '87,  nests  with  5  young  about  half  grown  were 
also  found  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  v,  23-4). 

Helminthophila  pinus  (641).     Blue-winged  Warbler. 

This  species,  fairly  numerous  in  migrations,  from  May  5 
('95)  to  May  16  ('93,  Wholey),  and  from  August  18  ('91,  Gray) 
to  September  21  ('94),  has  been  found  as  a  regular,  but  rare 
summer  resident  along  Gwynn's  Falls,  between  Calverton  and 
Franklin  (Blogg  and  Gray),  where  in  '92,  on  June  11  and  14, 
young  birds  just  out  of  the  nest  were  noted,  and  on  the  latter 
date  3  were  caught.  On  July  5,  another  brood  had  just 
left  a  nest.  In  '93,  on  May  20,  a  nest  was  half  built ;  on  the 
27th  it  contained  one  egg,  but  later  it  was  deserted.  On  June 
13  a  nest  was  found  containing  3  birds  just  hatched  and 
an  infertile  egg  ;  on  July  1,  another  had  4  birds  under  a 
week  old  and  an  infertile  egg,  and  on  July  12,  another  nest 
was  found  with  young  birds.  On  May  29,  '94,  a  nest  was 
found  with  four  fresh  eggs. 

On  June  15,  '95  (Fisher)  a  pair  was  seen  at  Mt.  Washington 
where  five  days  later  I  noted  a  pair  feeding  young,  and  on  July 
10,  '91  (Fisher),  one  bird  secured  from  a  flock  of  5  or  6  at 
Ruxton  indicates  its  nesting  there.  "  Geo.  Marshall  and  others 
have  found  it  breeding  at  Laurel,  Md.,  and  at  Washington, 
where  it  is  rare  as  a  breeding  bird,  a  nest  was  found  by  Mr.  H. 
H.  Birney  early  in  June,  '80,  with  4  eggs  about  to  hatch" 
(Richmond). 

Helminthophila  leucobronchialis  ( — ).    Brewster's  Warbler. 

The  identity  of  this  bird  is  not  very  clear,  but  it  is  supposed 
to  be  a  hybrid ;  it  has  been  found  from  Virginia  to  Connecticut, 
and  as  far  west  as  Michigan.  On  May  15,  '85,  one  was  taken 
near  Fort  Myer,  Alexandria  County,  Ya.,  by  Wm.  Palmer 
(Auk,  ii,  304),  and  a  very  typical  male  was  taken  at  Beltsville 
on  May  1,  '95,  by  A.  H.  Thayer  (C.  W.  Richmond,  Auk,  xii, 
307). 


350  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Helminthophila  chrysoptera  (642).  Golden-winged  Warbler. 

Uncommon  migrant ;  on  May  7,  '92  (Pleasants),  one  was 
taken  and  several  others  seen  near  Towson.  On  May  29,  '92 
(Wholey),  one  at  Waverly,  and  on  September  5,  '93  (Gray), 
another  near  Franklintown.  At  Laurel  a  female  was  taken  on 
May  8,  '94,  by  Geo.  Marshall.  At  Washington  "one  was 
seen  on  May  2,  '90,  and  specimens  were  taken  on  May  4,  '88 
(Hasbrouck),  and  '90  (Figgins);  on  August  8,  '89;  on  August 
11,  '89  (Palmer);  and  a  pair  on  August  17,  '89.  There  are 
numerous  other  records  "  (Richmond).  On  Dan's  Mountain  I 
noted  one  on  June  10,  '95. 

Helminthophila  ruficapilla  (645).     Nashville  Warbler. 

Regular,  though  not  common  migrant.  On  May  6,  '93,  and 
7,  '92  (Pleasants),  single  birds  were  taken  near  Towson.  On 
May  11,  '92  (Wholey),  3  birds  were  shot  out  of  about  20  at 
Waver ly,  where  on  the  12th  they  were  still  more  numerous;  at 
the  same  place  they  were  very  numerous  on  May  14,  '93,  but  3 
days  later  only  one  was  noted.  One  was  taken  at  Towson  on 
September  18,  '93  (Pleasants).  At  Washington  "specimens 
were  taken  on  May  1,  '89  (R.  Ridgway) ;  May  3,  '88  (A.  K. 
Fisher) ;  May  13,  '82  (H.  M.  Smith) ;  September  5,  '82  (H.  M. 
Smith);  September  16,  '94  (Figgins);  and  September  18,  '90, 
etc."  (Richmond). 

Helminthophila  celata  (646).     Orange-crowned  Warbler. 

"  Migrates  sparingly  east  of  the  Alleghanies  "  (Manual,  488). 
On  October  12,  '89,  one  was  taken  at  Munson  Hill,  Va.,  a  few 
miles  from  Washington,  by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  (Auk,  vii,  96), 
and  Captain  Crumb  shot  one  at  Cobb's  Island  in  the  fall  of  '87 
(letter  to  W.  H.  Fisher).  "  Wm.  Palmer  shot  one  on  October 
14,  '94,  at  Kensington,  Md.  This  is  the  latest  warbler  to 
arrive,  all  eastern  North  American  dates  are  very  late,  compared 
with  those  of  the  other  warblers.  In  spring  it  should  be  looked 
for  in  March  "  (Richmond). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  351 

Helminthophila  peregrina  (647).     Tennessee  Warbler.  , 

Irregular  fall  migrant,  has  not  yet  been  noted  in  spring. 
Specimens  have  been  taken  near  Baltimore  on  September  18 
('93,  Gray)  and  September  20  ('93,  Pleasants).  "  At  Washing- 
ton, on  August  31  ('90,  Figgins ;  W.  L.  Richmond);  September 
28  ('82,  Palmer ;  '90);  September  29  ('89,  Figgins);  October  3 
('94,  Palmer);  October  11  ('61,  T.  C.  Smith);  October  12  ('90); 
November  30  ('89),  and  others  are  recorded.  Some  seasons 
it  is  not  rare  in  the  tall,  rank  growth  of  weeds  on  the  Potomac 
Flats"  (Richmond). 

Compsothlypis  americana  (648).     Parula  Warbler. 

A  common  migrant,  this  species  also  spends  the  summer  with 
us  in  numbers,  where  it  finds  the  hanging  moss  ( Usnea),  and 
occasionally  elsewhere.  First  noted  near  Baltimore  on  April 
25  ('91,  Gray),  it  was  common  on  May  4  ('93,  Fisher)  and  began 
to  thin  out  by  May  17  ('92,  W^holey).  The  first  fall  movement 
was  noted  on  August  21  ('94),  and  it  was  numerous  from  Sep- 
tember 12  ('90,  Gray)  to  October  8  ('92,  Gray),  the  latest  date 
being  October  17  ('88,  Resler).  At  Washington  it  awas  first 
noted  on  April  19  ('91),  and  common  on  April  28  ('89);  the  last 
was  recorded  on  October  16  ('87)"  (Richmond). 

During  summer,  noted  near  Baltimore  on  June  3  ('91,  Resler), 
June  8  and  30  ('93,  Wholey),  July  4  and  14  ('93  Gray)  and 
July  29  and  August  5  ('92,  Resler).  At  Washington  on  June 
10  ('86,  Richmond). 

On  the  Isle  of  Wight,  Worcester  County,  a  few  miles  north 
of  Ocean  City,  Md.,  on  June  8,  '94,  I  saw  a  pair  feeding  four 
flying  young ;  this  prompted  further  investigation,  and  on  the 
12th  I  found  them  very  numerous,  in  the  4  hours  I  spent  there, 
noting  at  least  50  pairs  of  adults  with  young,  each  brood  keep- 
ing separate. 

On  Dan's  Mountain  I  noted  a  female  on  June  5,  '95,  the 
only  one  seen  there. 


352  TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE  [1895 

Dendroica  tigrina  (650).     Cape  May  Warbler. 

I  have  only  records  of  2  specimens  taken  near  Baltimore, 
one  on  October  21  ('93,  Wholey)  at  Waverly,  the  other  on  October 
22  ('90,  Resler)  at  Back  River.  "  Not  by  any  means  rare'  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  some  seasons  quite  common;  quite  a 
number  of  specimens  are  on  record  between  May  8  ('89,  R. 
Ridgway)  and  May  16  ('89,  R.  Ridgway).  On  August  4,  '92 
(E.  J.  Brown),  one  was  taken  and  they  are  again  numerously 
recorded  from  August  25  ('90,Figgins)  to  October  7  ('82,  H.  M. 
Smith),  while  on  December  16,  '88  (Figgins),  an  adult  male  was 
shot ;  it  was  in  company  with  D.  coronata  and  was  in  good  health 
and  spirits  when  found"  (Richmond). 

Dendroica  sestiva  (652).     Yellow  Warbler. 

Scattered  everywhere  in  migrations,  and  locally  common  du- 
ring summer.  On  April  6  ('93,  R.  C.  Watters)  quite  a  number 
were  seen  and  one  shot  in  Dorchester  County.  April  15  ('95, 
Wm.  Palmer),  at  Washington;  April  21  ('83  Small),  at  Hagers- 
town,  and  April  24  ('89,  Resler),  are  first  dates.  They  soon 
become  numerous,  but  thin  out  by  May  11  ('92).  In  the  fall  I 
have  never  seen  them  so  numerous  as  they  are  in  spring,  gener- 
ally only  a  single  bird  being  seen  at  a  time,  the  last  on  October 
2  ('94).  Nests  with  eggs  are  recorded  from  May  15  ('95, 
Gray)  to  June  16  ('95).  Sets  are  3  of  3,  1  of  4,  and  1  of  5. 
Common  at  Yale  Summit,  June  5-14,  '95. 

Dendroica  cserulescens  (654).     Black-throated 
Blue  Warbler. 

An  abundant  migrant,  noted  as  numerous  from  April  30 
('93)  to  May  15  ('92) ;  the  last  were  seen  on  May  28  ('94),  when 
a  pair,  male  and  female,  spent  the  day  at  Waverly,  Baltimore  City. 
August  27  ('89,  Resler)  notes  the  first  return  in  the  fall  and 
they  were  numerous  from  August  31  ('93  Gray)  to  October  18 
('93),  when  an  enormous  number  were  in  a  small  patch  of  woods. 
At  Washington,  "from  April  27  ('88,  Hasbrouck)  to  May  30 
'83  ,  and  from  August  31  ('90)  to  October  19  ('92)  "(Richmond). 


1895]  MAKYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  353 

Dendroica  coronata  (655).     Myrtle  Warbler. 

Abundant  migrant,  some  occasionally  wintering  with  us. 
On  September  7,  '94,  a  single  bird  was  seen  in  Druid  Hill 
Park.  On  September  30  ('94)  the  migration  commenced  and 
they  are  numerously  noted  to  November  12  ('92,  Gray) ;  after 
which  they  were  recorded  on  November  24  ('92),  December 
28  ('91,  Gray)  and  January  28  ('93,  Gray),  becoming  common 
again  on  February  4  ('93,  Gray)  and  remaining  so  until  May  5 
('95),  the  latest  date  being  May  19  ('93,  Kesler).  At  Washington, 
it  is  "  a  common  winter  resident  from  September  30  ('90;  '94) 
to  May  20  ('88)  "  (Richmond).  At Hagerstown,  "plentiful  in 
November  and  February,  many  spent  the  winter  of  '79—80, 
while  other  winters  only  a  few  were  seen.  In  '83  they  re- 
mained in  considerable  numbers  until  May  6  "  (Small). 

During  the  latter  part  of  June,  '79,  a  male,  female  and  3 
young  about  half  grown  were  observed  near  Havre-de-Grace. 
The  male  was  perfectly  healthy,  but  the  female  had  a  healed 
up  broken  wing  and  was  only  able  to  flutter  a  short  distance, 
which  accounts  for  their  staying  to  breed  (Ludwig  Kumlein, 
B.  N.  O.  C.,  v.  182.) 

Dendroica  maculosa  (657).     Magnolia  Warbler. 

Abundant  migrant;  noted  from  May  4  ('93,  Fisher)  to  June 
3  ('94,  Gray),  and  from  August  22  ('94),  to  October  5  ('87, 
Resler).  At  Washington  "from  April  22  ('91)  to  May  30 
('91),  and  from  August  16  ('89)  to  October  5  ('90)"  (Rich- 
mond). "  The  nest  has  been  found  in  Somerset  County,  Pa., 
where  I  am  informed  they  breed  regularly"  (Birds  Pa.,  283). 

Dendroica  cserulea  (658).   Cerulean  Warbler. 

Rare  east  of  the  Alleghanies.  On  July  14,  '93,  an  adult 
male  and  2  young  birds  were  taken ;  the  male  had  been  heard 
singing  for  a  week  previously  (J.  H.Pleasants,  Jr.,  Auk,  x,  372). 
On  May  5,  '88,  a  male  was  taken  at  Rock  Creek,  and  on  May 
11,  '90,  a  female  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  near 
Washington  (E.  M.  Hasbrouck,  Auk,  v,  323  and  vii,  291). 


354  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

At  Hagerstown  it  was  noted  as  a  rare  transient  and  ques- 
tioned as  a  summer  resident  (Small),  while  Dr.  H.  D.  Mearns 
gives  it  as  "a  rare  summer  visitant"  in  Somerset  County  Pa., 
(Birds  Pa.,  269  and  284). 


Dendroica  pensylvanica  (659).     Chestnut-sided  "Warbler. 

A  common  migrant  from  April  29  ('93,  Gray)  to  May  25 
('92,  Resler),  and  from  August  15  ('90,  Pleasants)  to  Septem- 
ber 25  ('93,  Gray).  On  October  18,  '9 3,  a  remarkably  large  num- 
ber of  this  species  were  observed.  They,  with  other  species, 
fairly  swarmed  in  an  8-acre  piece  of  woods ;  my  note  book 
says :  "The  ground  was  covered  with  Towhees  and  Snowbirds, 
the  bushes  were  full  of  White-throats,  Song  Sparrows  and  Snow- 
birds, while  the  trees  were  filled  with  Black-throated  Blue, 
Black-throated  Green,  and  Chestnut-sided  Warblers,  Golden 
and  Ruby-crowned  Ringlets,  Robins  and  Blue  Jays, — evidently 
a  first-class  bird-wave." 

At  Washington  they  are  recorded  from  "  April  28  to  May 
30  ('91),  and  from  August  10  ('89 ;  '94,  Figgins)  to  September 
29  ('89)' '  (Richmond). 

On  July  4,  '93  (Wholey),  a  pair  were  taken  near  the  Blue 
Mountain  House,  and  on  July  24,  '93  (Gray),  a  pair  with 
"  worms  "  in  their  bills  were  seen  within  100  yards  of  High 
Rock,  showing  that  they  breed  on  the  Blue  Ridge.  On  Dan's 
Mountain  they  were  fairly  common  from  June  5  to  14,  '95  ; 
on  the  9th  I  collected  a  nest  with  4  eggs  about  half  incubated. 

Dendroica  castanea  (660).     Bay-breasted  Warbler. 

Migrant,  not  common  ;  specimens  have  been  taken  as  follows : 
May  16  ('91,  Blogg)  at  Franklintown,  May  21  ('93,  Wholey) 
at  Waverly,  May  24  ('90,  Pleasants)  at  Towson,  and  May  28 
('93,  Wholey)  at  Waverly;  September  20  ('93,  Gray)  at  Cal- 
verton,  September  21  ('93,  Pleasants)  at  Towson,  and  Septem- 
ber 28  ('89,  Resler)  at  Back  River, 


1895]  MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  355 

At  Washington  "  a  late  arrival  in  spring  of  irregular  abun- 
dance, usually  uncommon ;  from  May  10  to  27  ('88;  5  shot 
by  Wm.  Palmer),  and  from  August  29  ('87,  R.  Kidgway)  to 
October  19  ('88,  R.  Ridgway).  On  September  22,  24  and  29, 
'89,  they  were  common  at  Great  Falls,  Md."  (Richmond). 

Dendroica  striata  (661).     Black-poll  Warbler. 

Common  migrant  from  May  4  ('92,  Resler)  to  May  28  ('87, 
Resler;  '93,  Wholey),  and  from  September  24  ('84,  Resler)  to 
October  18  ('90,  Resler).  At  Sandy  Springs,  to  June  3  (Sta- 
bler). At  Washington  "  numerous  from  May  1  to  June  1  ('88, 
'89,  and  '90,  Figgins;  '91),  and  from  September  1  ('89  and '94, 
Figgins)  to  October  20  ('89)  One  was  seen  on  June  3,  '89; 
one  was  shot  on  June  4,  '58,  (Coues),  and  one  was  heard  singing 
on  June  12,  '94  (Brown)"  (Richmond).  "On  July  30, '93, 
an  adult  male  was  shot  at  Washington  (E.  J.  Brown,  Auk, 
xi,  79). 

Dendroica  blackburniae  (662).     Blackburnian  Warbler. 

Common  migrant  from  May  2  ('93,  A.  Wolle)  to  May  19 
('92,  Resler),  and  from  August  30  ('93,  Gray)  to  October  13 
('83,  Resler).  At  Washington  "as  early  as  August  19  ('94, 
Brown)"  (Richmond).  On  July  28,  '92,  in  Howard  County, 
a  young  male  was  taken  by  A.  Resler  (Transactions  of  the 
Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences,  1892,  203).  On  June  10, 
95,  on  Dan's  Mountain,  while  watching  a  pair  of  Louisiana 
Water  Thrushes,  a  male  flew  close  to  me  and  commenced 
bathing. 

Dendroica  dominica  (663).     Yellow-throated  Warbler. 

"  Southern  Atlantic  States,  north  regularly  to  Maryland 
(near  seacost)"  (Manual,  503).  On  May  12,  '95,  at  Fairwiew, 
a  fishing  shore  on  Rock  Creek,  Anne  Arrundel  County,  and 
9  miles  from  Baltimore,  Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher  noted  3  birds 
of  this  species;  two  were  together  in  the  woods,  the  third  was 
in  a  tree  at  the  boat-landing. 


356  TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE  [1895 

"  At  Washington  it  is  not  common  ;  specimens  have  been 
taken  as  follows  :  July  15,  '94,  3  (Brown  and  Palmer) ;  July 
20,  '90,  3  or  4  (Figgins  and  Richmond) ;  July  27,  '90,  1 ; 
July  28,  '89,  4  (Figgins  and  Richmond);  July  29,  '94,  1 
(Brown  and  Palmer);  August  1,  '89,  5;  August  1,  '94,  4 
(Figgins) ;  August  5,  '89,  1 ;  September  4,  '90,  1  seen.  In 
'93,  at  Johnson's  Gully,  near  Marshall  Hall,  Md.,  where 
it  undoubtedly  breeds,  Palmer  and  Hasbrouck  found  it  on 
June  1  and  11,  July  22  and  August  10.  On  Smith's  Island, 
Ya.,  about  May  24,  '94, 1  saw  one  with  a  '  worm '  in  its  mouth, 
evidently  feeding  young  "  (Richmond). 

Dendroica  virens  (667).     Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 

Common  migrant  from  April  21  ('93,  Blogg)  to  May  15 
('92),  and  from  August  30  ('90,  Resler)  to  October  22  ('90, 
Pleasants).  On  October  18,  '93,  they  were  remarkably  numer- 
ous in  the  bird  wave  already  noted.  At  Washington  from 
April  22  ('88,  M.  M.  Green)  to  May  19  ('88;  '95,  Palmer),  and 
from  August  26  ('89,  Figgins,  at  Jefferson,  Md.)  to  October 
21  "  (Richmond).  On  June  14,  '95,  on  Dan's  Mountain,  a 
pair  were  feeding  flying  young. 

Dendroica  kirtlandi  (670).     Kirtland's  Warbler. 

Migrates  through  southeastern  United  States  and  Mississippi 
Valley ;  summer  home  unknown,  winters  in  the  Bahamas. 
"  Win.  Palmer  shot  one  on  September  25,  '87,  near  Fort  Myer, 
Va.  (about  one-quarter  mile  from  the  Potomac  River)"  (Rich- 
mond). 

Dendroica  vigorsii  (671).     Pine   Warbler. 

Fairly  numerous  during  migrations,  this  species,  local  in  its 
distribution,  spends  the  summer  with  us  in  limited  numbers. 
Numerously  noted  from  April  9  ('90,  Resler)  to  April  25  ('85, 
Resler),  and  from  August  3  ('93,  Resler)  to  October  22  ('92, 
Blogg).  On  June  29,  '93  (Resler),  one  was  taken  at  Back 
River,  and  on  July  2,  '93,  another  in  Dulaney's  Valley.  At 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCES.  357 

Washington  "  noted  from  March  24  ('89,  Figgins)  to  October 
25;  it  is  a  rare  summer  resident  but  swarms  at  times  in  the  fall. 
Figgins  found  them  in  immense  numbers  on  August  31,  '90, 
and  shot  18"  (Richmond). 

In  Dorchester  County,  on  April  6,  '93  (R.  C.  Waiters),  sev- 
eral were  seen  and  one  taken.  In  Worcester  County,  on  June 
12,  '94,  on  the  mainland,  about  a  mile  from  Ocean  City,  I 
watched  a  male  for  about  an  hour  in  hopes  of  locating  the  nest 
which  evidently  was  close  at  hand,  but  I  did  not  find  it. 

Dendroica  palmarum  (672).     Palm  Warbler. 

"Occasional  (or  casual)  during  migrations  east  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies"  (Manual,  517).  The  following  specimens  have  been 
taken  near  Washington,  where  it  is  "probably  a  regular, though 
rare,  migrant."  April  22,'  85,Roslyn,  Alexandria  County,  Va.; 
April  29,  '88,  Roslyn,  (C.  W.  Richmond) ;  May  6  and  May  11, 
'89,  Laurel,  Prince  George  County,  Md.  (R.  Ridgway) ;  May 
11,  '90,  Riverdale,  Prince  George  County,  Md.  (C.  W.  Rich- 
mond); May  11,  '81,  Soldiers'  Home,  District  of  Columbia 
(L.  M.  McCormick) ;  September  1 8,  '87,  Potomac  Landing, 
Alexandria  County,  Va,;  September  22,  '93,  Four  Mill  Run, 
Alexandria  County,  Va.  (J.  E.  Brown);  October  4,  '91,  Balls- 
ton,  Alexandria  County,  Va.  (Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  xi,  333). 

Dendroica  palmarum  hypochrysea  (672a),     Yellow    Palm 

Warbler. 

A  regular  migrant;  common,  usually  appearing  in  small 
flocks,  though  often  single  birds  are  seen,  from  April  4  ('93, 
Gray)  to  April  29  ('91,  Resler),  and  from  September  12  ('95, 
Hoen)  to  October  22  ('93).  At  Washington  "  from  March  31 
('89)  to  April  29,  and  in  the  fall  they  were  still  common  on 
October  19  ('90,  Figgins)"  (Richmond).  "One  year  they  were 
very  common  at  Hagerstown  in  October,  swarming  everywhere, 
some  even  coming  in  at  the  windows"  (Small). 


358  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Dendroica  discolor  (673).     Prairie  Warbler. 

A  summer  resident,  but  so  decidedy  local  that  until  its  special 
haunts  are  discovered  its  presence  is  not  suspected.  These  are 
usually  of  limited  extent,  but  quite  a  number  are  known  near 
Baltimore,  a  few  pairs  breeding  at  each.  Noted  from  April  22 
('91,  Resler)  to  September  5  ('83,  Resler).  On  June  4  ('90,  J. 
H.  Fisher,  Jr.)  a  nest  held  slightly  incubated  eggs,  and  on  July 
16  (93)  young  birds  left  a  nest  on  being  disturbed.  Sets  are 
3  of  3,  and  1  of  4.  "  Common  at  Washington  from  April  19 
('91)  to  September.  Mr.  Figgins  found  a  nest  with  4  eggs  on 
May  14,  '91,  and  another  with  3  on  May  30,  '88"  (Richmond). 

Seiurus  aurocapillus  (674).     Oven-bird. 

Common  summer  resident;  first  noted  on  April  9  ('93), 
and  numerous  from  April  21  ('93,  Resler)  to  September  16 
('94) ;  the  last  was  recorded  on  October  18  ('90,  Resler).  Ex- 
treme nesting  dates  are  May  24  ('91,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.),  fresh 
eggs,  and  August  6  ('93),  young  just  out  of  the  nest.  Sets  are 
2  of  3,  7  of  4,  and  1  of  5.  At  Washington  "to  October  17, 
'90 ;  on  May  20,  '88,  a  nest  with  4  eggs  was  found  "  (Rich- 
mond). 

Seiurus  noveboracensis  (675).     Water-Thrush. 

Common  migrant  from  April  27  ('92,  Resler)  to  May  25 
('93,  Resler),  and  from  August  29  ('94,  Resler)  to  October  16 
('92,  Wholey).  At  Washington  « from  April  22  ('94,  Win. 
Palmer)  to  May  25.  On  July  21  ('94,  Figgins)  one  was  found 
that  had  killed  itself  by  flying  against  telegraph  wires,  and  it 
is  numerously  recorded  from  that  on  until  September"  (Rich- 
mond). 

Seiurus  noveboracensis  notabilis  (675a).    Grinnell's  Water- 
Thrush. 

A  western  species.  Two  specimens  taken  in  Virginia,  near 
Washington,  May  11,  '79,  and  May  5,  '85,  are  in  the  collec- 
tion of  Mr.  W.  Palmer  (Auk,  v,  148).  Another  was  captured 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  359 

by  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  August  5,  '86,  not  far  from  the  Long 
Bridge,  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the.  Potomac"  (Birds  Yas., 
'85-6.) 

Seiurus  motacilla  (676).     Louisiana  Water-Thrush. 

Common  during  migrations.  This  species  probably  spends 
the  summer  with  us  in  greater  numbers  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed. Noted  from  April  3  ('93,  Gray)  to  September  24  ('92, 
Blogg).  On  June  13  and  22,  '93  (Gray),  a  pair  were  seen 
feeding  young  near  Franklintown.  At  Washington  "a  nest 
and  5  badly  incubated  eggs  were  obtained  on  Piney  Branch, 
May  25,  '88,  by  G.  E.  Mitchell.  Wm.  Palmer  got  a  fully 
fledged  young  bird  about  June  14,  '91 "  (Richmond).  On  June 
10,  '95,  I  found  two  pairs  on  Dan's  Mountain,  where,  no 
doubt,  they  were  nesting. 

'       Geothlypis  Formosa  (677).     Kentucky  Warbler. 

Summer  resident,  not  rare  round  Baltimore ;  a  pair  usually 
occupying  each  marshy  spring  head  in  heavy  woods.  Noted 
from  April  29  ('92,  Blogg)  to  September  8  ('95);  nesting  dates 
range  from  June  18  ('93),  young  just  hatched,  to  July  27  ('95), 
young  still  in  nest.  Sets  are  1  of  3  and  4  of  4.  At  Wash- 
ington "not  very  common,  May  3  to  September  5.  On  June 
15,  '79,  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw  found  a  nest  with  4  eggs  some- 
what incubated"  (Richmond).  At  Johnson's  Gully,  Md.,  on 
May  30,  '92,  a  nest  with  5  eggs  was  found,  and  on  June  6,  '29, 
another  with  4  eggs,  both  slightly  incubated  (E.  M.  Hasbrouck, 
Auk,  x,  92). 

Geothlypis  agilis  (678).     Connecticut  Warbler. 

A  rare  migrant.  I  have  no  spring  dates,  but  specimens  have 
been  taken  from  September  20  ('93,  Pleasants)  to  October  1 
('90,  Resler).  At  Washington  "very  rare  in  spring.  Mr.  L. 
McCormick  shot  one  at  Falls  Church,  Va.,  in  May,  '79,  and 
Wm.  Palmer  got  a  female  on  May  23,  '91.  It  is  fairly  com- 
mon in  fall,  and  has  been  taken  from  August  28  ('86,  Dr.  A.  K. 
Fisher)  to  October  12  ('90),  when  two  were  taken  on  the 
Potomac  Flats  and  another  seen"  (Richmond). 


360  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

Geothlypis  Philadelphia  (679).     Mourning  Warbler. 

Rare  migrant;  near  Baltimore  single  birds  have  been  recorded 
as  follows :  May  28,  '91,  Towson  (Pleasants),  shot ;  May 
26,  '77,  Back  Kiver  (Resler),  shot;  June  3,  '93,  Franklin 
Road  (Gray),  seen  ;  August  24,  '87,  Patapsco  Marsh  (Resler), 
shot ;  August  30,  '93,  Back  River  (Resler),  shot ;  September 
1,  '90,  Franklin  Road  (Blogg),  seen ;  September  13,  '79,  Bay 
View  (Resler),  shot  ;  September  18,  93,  Franklin  Road  (Gray), 
seen  ;  September  26,  '94,  Back  River  (Resler),  shot ;  Septem- 
ber 30,  '93,  Dulaney's  Valley  (Wholey),  shot ;  October  5,  '87, 
Patapsco  Marsh  (Resler),  shot. 

On  August  17,  '94,  an  immature  female  was  taken  at 
Laurel,  by  Mr.  Geo.  Marshall.  At  Washington  "very  rare 
from  the  middle  to  the  end  of  May  and  from  August  to 
October  1,  '94,  when  Wm.  Palmer  got  an  immature  female  " 
(Richmond). 

Geothlypis  trichas  (681).     Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

Our  most  abundant  summer  warbler;  first  noted  on  April  20 
('91,  Resler),  it  soon  becomes  common  and  remains  so  until 
October  6  ('95),  the  last  being  recorded  on  October  19  ('92, 
Resler).  The  nests  of  this  species,  as  of  all  ground  buildings 
birds,  are  difficult  to  find,  so  I  have  but  few  items ;  extremes 
are  May  24  ('92,  Wholey),  a  nest  ready  for  eggs,  and  August  13 
('93),  when  young  leave  a  nest.  Sets  are  1  of  3,  and  2  of  4. 
At  Washington  "abundant  from  April  15  ('91,  R.  Ridgway) 
to  October  21  ('95,  Palmer  and  Matthews)"  (Richmond).  Not 
very  common  on  Dan's  Mountain,  June  5-14,  '95. 

Icteria  virens  (683).     Yellow-breasted'  Chat. 

Common  summer  resident,  from  April  30  ('92,  Gray);  they 
leave  early  and  but  few  are  seen  after  August  6  ('93),  though 
single  birds  have  been  noted  until  August  30  ('93,  Gray).  At 
Washington  "from  April  29  ('74,  Palmer,  Hasbrouck  and 
Preble;  '88,Hasbrouck)  to  September  "  (Richmond).  It  is  given 
to  September  20  in  Pennsylvania  (Birds  Pa.,  299).  Eggs 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  361 

are  noted  from  May  22  ('89,  J.  H.  Fisher,  Jr.)  to  July  12  ('91). 
Sets  are  9  of  3,  2  of  4,  and  1  of  5.  A  few  pairs  were  on  Dan's 
Mountain;  a  nest  contained  3  eggs  on  June  14,  '95. 

Sylvania  mitrata  (684).     Hooded  Warbler. 

A  rare  migrant;  near  Baltimore  specimens  have  been  taken  : 
May  3,  '90,  and  10,  '84  (Resler) ;  May  15,  '92  (Wholey)  ; 
September  8,  '93  (Gray) ;  September  20,  '90  (Resler),  and 
one  was  seen  on  September  22,  '95.  Possibly  it  breeds  in  limited 
numbers  in  Howard  County,  for  on  August  4,  '94,  near  Bot- 
terill  P.  O.,  14  miles  southwest  of  Baltimore,  Mr.  A.  Resler 
collected  a  young  bird  not  long  out  of  the  nest,  and  four  days 
later  a  pair  of  adults,  male  and  female.  At  Washington  aa 
rare  migrant,  may  breed.  Specimens  have  been  taken  from 
May  1  ('88,  Hasbrouck)  to  the  end  of  the  month;  and  from 
August  19  ('94,  Figgins),  at  Kinsington,  to  September  15  ('90)" 
(Richmond). 

Sylvania  pusilla  (685).'    Wilson's  Warbler. 

A  fairly  common  migrant  from  May  6  ('93,  Gray)  to  May 
26  ('95),  and  from  September  11  ('92,  Gray)  to  September  23 
('93,  Wholey).  At  Washington  "rather  common  from  May  8 
to  May  23  ('91),  and  from  August  31  ('90)  to  the  middle  of 
September"  (Richmond). 

Sylvania  canadensis  (686).     Canadian  Warbler. 

Common  migrant  from  May  4  ('95,  Fisher)  to  May  29  ('94, 
Resler),  and  from  August  7  ('89,  Resler)  to  September  18  ('90, 
Gray).  At  Washington  "from  May  5  ('94,  Hasbrouck)  to 
May  27,  and  /rom  August  7  ('87)  to  September  24  ('89)" 
(Richmond).  On  Dan's  Mountain,  on  June  10,  '95,  I  came 
across  a  male  singing,  and  later  a  pair  with  young  in  the  nest. 

Setophaga  ruticilla  (687).     American  Eedstart. 

Common  migrant  from  April  25  ('91,  Blogg)  to  May  24 
('93,  Wholey),  and  from  August  24  ('94)  to  October  15  ('93); 
most  of  the  notes,  after  the  middle  of  September,  record  imma- 


362  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

ture  birds.  It  is  also  fairly  common,  though  local,  during 
the  summer.  A  pair  were  seen  mating  on  May  15  (?92),  and 
young  birds  out  of  the  nest  are  noted  from  June  3  to  July  18 
('93,  Gray).  On  June  20,  '93,  Mr.  W.  H.  Fisher  and  I  found 
them  very  numerous  at  Mount  Washington.  In  a  walk  of  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  we  noted  9  pairs  feeding  young,  and  no 
doubt  there  were  others  we  did  not  see.  Sets  are  3  of  3.  At 
Washington  it  is  "a  common  migrant,  first  noted  on  April  19, 
'91.  A  few  breed.  Hasbrouck  found  a  nest  with  4  eggs  nearly 
hatched  on  May  21,  '88"  (Richmond).  On  Dan's  Mountain, 
June  5  to  14,  '95,  they  were  very  numerous;  their  numbers 
about  equalled  that  of  all  other  birds  seen  there.  On  the  9th 
young  birds  left  a  nest  before  I  could  count  them. 

Family  MOTACILLID^E — Pipits. 
Anthus  pensilvanicus  (697).     American  Pipit. 

Common  in  flocks  from  October  13  ('95)  to  November  19 
('94),  and  from  February  11  ('94)  to  May  13  ('92) ;  occasionally 
some  winter  with  us.  At  Washington  "from  October  15  (;90) 
to  May  4  ('89);  more  numerous  in  October,  November  and 
March  and  April  than  in  midwinter.  They  were  common  until 
November  30,  90"  (Richmond). 

On  November  12,  '93,  I  found  a  large  flock  in  Dulaney's 
Valley ;  some  were  running  and  presumably  feeding  on  pas- 
ture, others  on  a  part  that  had  been  newly  turned  up,  while  the 
greater  number  were  either  bathing  in  a  shallow  puddle  or 
dressing  their  feathers  in  an  adjoining  tree,  being  perched  on 
the  branches  from  the  ground  up  to  the  top,  fully  50  feet  from 
the  ground ;  they,  however,  were  more  at  hon\e  on  the  fence 
rails  or  on  the  ground. 

Family  TROGLODYTID^E — Thrashers,  Wrens,  etc. 

Mimus  polyglottos  (703).     Mockingbird. 

Resident  in  the  southern  counties  of  Maryland  and  regular  in 
summer  as  far  north  as  Kent  and  Anne  Arundel  Counties.  In 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  363 

the  balance  of  the  state  it  can  only  be  called  a  straggler. 
On  May  2,  '93  (Fisher),  one  was  at  Glyndon.  On  June  7 
and  14,  '85,  one  was  singing  in  great  style  at  Fork.  On  Sep- 
tember 17,  '93,  two  were  fussing  in  a  tree  in  Dulaney's  Val- 
ley, where  Mr.  Thomas  Peerce  informs  me  a  pair  "  used"  until 
a  few  years  ago,  and  also  that  another  pair  regularly  spent  the 
summer  just  across  the  ridge  in  Long  Green  Valley,  until  about 
the  same  year.  In  the  spring  of  '82  (Pleasants)  two  nests 
with  eggs  were  found  near  Towson. 

On  June  28,  '93  (Blogg),  a  nest  with  young  about  a  week 
old  was  found  at  Bay  Ridge,  Anne  Arundel  County.  In 
Queen  Anne  County,  on  May  30,  '92,  a  nest  was  ready  for 
eggs,  and  on  May  27  and  31,  and  June  1  and  2,  nests  were 
found  with  3  young  birds  in  each.  At  St.  Michael's,  Talbot 
County,  4  fresh  eggs  were  found  on  June  13,  '94. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  (704).     Catbird. 

Common  summer  resident  from  April  25  ('92,  Gray)  to 
October  22  ('90,  Resler).  One  was  noted  in  Dulaney's  Valley 
on  December  24  ('94,  W.  L'Allemand),  and  on  April  2  ('93) 
two  very  noisy  birds  spent  the  day  at  Waverly.  At  Washing- 
ton "  from  April  16  ('94,  K.  Ridgway)  to  October  ;  Wm.  Pal- 
mer has  taken  a  specimen  in  December,  and  on  January  13,  '89, 
I  found  the  remains  of  one  that  had  been  killed  by  some  bird  of 
prey  "  (Richmond).  On  May  4  ('92)  a  pair  were  building,  and 
eggs  are  recorded  from  May  16  ('91)  to  August  16  ('91).  "Sets 
are  1  of  1,  6  of  2,  31  of  3, 15  of  4,  and  2  of  5.  At  Vale  Sum- 
mit, I  only  saw  3  in  10  days. 

The  following  is  the  result  of  observations  made  on  a  nest 
built  in  a  veranda  at  Tacoma,  D.  C.  After  the  nest  had 
been  completed  24  hours,  the  first  egg  was  laid  on  May  11, 
'93,  at  10.35  A.  M.,  the  second  at  9.40  A.  M.,  the  third  at 
9.15  A.  M.,  and  the  fourth  at  10.15  A.  M.  on  successive  days. 
For  the  first  4  days  she  sat  upon  them  only  at  irregular  inter- 
vals, but  this  habit  soon  changed  after  that  time.  On  May  25 
there  were  no  birds  hatched  at  dark,  but  on  the  morning  of  the 


364  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

26th  3  young  were  in  the  nest,  the  other  hatched  the  next  night. 
At  6.45  P.  M.  on  June  5  they  all  left  the  nest  together  (R. 
W.  Shufeldt,  Auk,  x,  303-4). 

Harporhynchus  rufus  (705).     Brown  Thrasher. 

Common  summer  resident,  from  April  19  ('94)  to  September 
21  ('94);  extreme  dates  are  April  7  ('90,  Resler)  and  November 
5  ('93).  "At  Laurel,  on  April  2  ('88,  R.  Ridgway),  two  were 
seen.  At  Washington  from  April  6  ('88)  to  November  13 
('87)"  (Richmond).  May  21  ('93),  a  nest  with  birds  about 
one-half  grown,  and  August  6  ('93),  another  with  birds  only 
3  or  4  days  old,  are  extreme  nesting  dates.  Sets  are  2  of  2,  4 
of  3,  5  of  4,  and  1  of  5.  Usually  nesting  in  a  brier  tangle  or  thick 
bush,  on  May  29,  '81,  one  was  placed  on  the  broken-oif  top  of  an 
appletree  stub  about  7  feet  high.  On  July  26,  '91,  one  was 
on  the  4th  rail  of  a  worm  fence,  and  on  June  24,  '91,  another 
was  on  the  ground  under  a  potato  vine.  At  Vale  Summit  they 
were  not  common;  on  June  7  a  nest  held  4  fresh  eggs. 

Thryothorus  ludovicianus  (718).     Carolina  Wren. 

Common  resident,  occasionally  vying  with  the  House  Wren 
in  semi-domesticity.  On  April  8  ('94)  a  nest  was  nearly  fin- 
ished, and  on  May  2  ('90)  a  brood  of  young  left  a  nest,  while 
as  late  as  August  10  ('93)  slightly  incubated  eggs  were  taken. 
Sets  are  1  of  3,  1  of  4,  2  of  5,  and  2  of  6. 

On  April  26,  '91, 1  was  shown  a  nest  containing  3  fresh  eggs 
placed  behind  an  ornament  in  the  corner  of  a  friend's  parlor ; 
later,  I  was  told  that  either  five  or  six  young  were  raised  there. 
At  Vale  Summit  one  bird  was  seen  on  June  13,  '95. 

Thryothorus  bewickii  (719).     Bewick's  Wren. 

A  rare  bird  east  of  the  Alleghanies.  Single  birds  are  recorded 
at  Washington  as  follows :  April  5,  '92  (R.  Ridgway),  seen ; 
April  6,  '83  (Wm.  Palmer),  shot;  April  8,  '88  (M.  M.  Green), 
shot;  April  10,  '82  (Wm.  Palmer),  shot ;  April  22,  '88  (M.  M. 
Green),  seen  ;  November  24,  '89  (J.  D.  Figgins),  shot ;  Decem- 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF  SCIENCES.  365 

ber  22,  '90  (C.  W.  Richmond),  seen  (Robt.  Ridgway,  Auk,  ix, 
307,  and  Richmond).  Possibly  it  is  common  in  summer  in 
parts  of  western  Maryland.  On  July  4,  '93  (Wholey),  about 
one  hundred  yards  from  Quir-Auk,  on  the  Blue  Ridge  Moun- 
tain, a  nest  of  this  species  was  found  in  a  hollow  log  ;  in  it  were 
4  young,  which  fluttered  out,  leaving  2  infertile  eggs.  On  the 
same  day  a  specimen  was  secured  near  the  Blue  Mountain 
House.  On  August  2/93  (Gray),  one  was  observed  near  Hagers- 
town.  On  June  9  and  14,  '95,  I  noted  this  species  at  Vale 
Summit,  and  on  the  llth  a  pair  were  seen  with  a  brood  of 
young. 

Troglodytes  aedon  (721).     House  Wren. 

A  common  summer  resident.  This  semi-domesticated,  wholly 
independent  and  irrepressibly  impudent  little  bird  has  been 
noted  from  April  12  ('95,  Fisher)  to  October  10  ('93),  on 
which  latter  date  a  number  were  seen  at  Bright  Lights,  near 
North  Point.  Possibly  they  may  arrive  earlier  than  above 
given,  for  on  April  27  ('93)  a  nest  was  about  one-half  built, 
and  3  days  later  another  was  nearly  ready  for  eggs.  The 
earliest  date,  however,  I  have  found  eggs  is  May  19  ('95),  the 
latest  July  17  ('92),  and  on  August  26  ('94)  young  birds  barely 
out  of  the  nest  were  seen.  Sets  are  2  of  3,  3  of  4,  7  of  5,  4 
of  6,  and  2  of  7. 

This  species  often  pre-empts  the  nests  of  other  birds,  the 
Downy  Woodpecker  being  the  most  usual  victim.  On  May 
26,  '94,  a  Carolina  Wren's  nest,  which  I  had  watched  being 
built,  held  one  egg ;  on  June  3  a  House  Wren  was  found  it  it, 
and  having  added  5  of  her  own  was  sitting  on  them,  all  6 
being  slightly  incubated.  As  a  rule,  when  the  House  Wren 
jumps  a  claim  it  modifies  things  to  suit  itself,  but  in  this  case  it 
made  no  changes,  the  nest  being  exactly  as  the  Carolina  Wren 
had  built  it. 

Troglodytes  hiemalis  (722).     Winter  Wren. 
Common  winter  resident  from  September  26  ('94,  Resler)  to 
May   7  ('93,  Blogg,  Fisher  and  F.  C.  K.).     At  Washington 


366  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

''from  September  27  ('89,  R.  Bidgway)  to  April  29  ('88)" 
(Richmond).  While  a  few  come  round  the  farm  buildings, 
others  may  be  found  in  dry  upland  woods,  but  to  see  any  num- 
ber in  the  course  of  a  day's  walk,  our  wooded  watercourses 
must  be  followed,  where  they  will  usually  be  found  among  the 
roots  that  hang  from  the  washed  banks,  the  individuals  being 
about  one-half  a  mile  apart.  On  November  27,  '92,  Mr. 
W.  N.  Wholey  and  I  heard  one  sing  in  Dulaney's  Valley. 

Cistothorus  stellaris  (724).     Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

Very  rare.  On  April  18,  '79,  a  specimen  wras  presented  to 
the  Maryland  Academy  of  Sciences  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Clayton. 
Presumably  it  was  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore.  At 
Washington  E.  M.  Hasbrouck  has  taken  two  specimens ;  one,  a 
female,  on  May  9,  '90  (Auk,  vii,  289),  the  other  on  May  3, 
'93  (Richmond).  "  Rare  migrant,  and  in  southern  New  Jersey 
occasional  (regular?)  winter  resident"  (Birds  E.  Fa.  and  N.  J., 
144;  Auk,  ix,  204). 

Cistothorus  palustris  (725).     Long-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

Common  summer  resident  in  the  marshes  of  tidewater  Mary- 
land ;  it  probably  also  winters  in  limited  numbers  in  southern 
Maryland,  as  Messrs.  S.  1ST.  Rhoads  and  Witmer  Stone  found  it 
"  tolerably  common  in  cattail  swamps"  at  Cape  May  City,  N. 
J.,  January  26  to  29,  '92,  (Auk,  ix.  204).  Noted  near  Balti- 
more from  April  28  ('94,  Wholey)  to  October  14  ('91,  Resler), 
and  at  Washington  to  October  19  ('90,  Richmond).  Nests  with 
eggs  range  from  June  3  ('90)  to  August  7  (?90),  on  which  latter 
date  3  other  nests  were  ready  for  eggs,  so  presumably  they  nest 
later.  Sets  are  1  of  2,  1  of  3,  9  of  4,  6  of  5,  and  1  of  6.  At 
Hagerstown  one  was  observed  "  for  a  few  days  in  spring  in 
the  yard"  (Small). 

Family  GERTRUDES — Creepers. 
Certhia  familiaris  americana  (726).     Brown  Creeper. 

Fairly  common  during  winter  from  September  26  ('94,  Res- 
ler) to  May  8  ('75,  Resler).  "  One  was  taken  at  Washington 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  367 

on  September  22,  '55,  by  Dr.  Cones  "  (Richmond).  On  Sep- 
tember 27  ('94,  Fisher)  one  was  seen  in  a  tree  at  the  corner  of 
Park  Avenue  and  Madison  Street.  At  Hagerstown  "  from  Octo- 
ber to  May"  (Small). 

Family  PARID^E — Nuthatches  and  Tits. 
Sitta  carolinensis  (727).     White-breasted  Nuthatch. 

Common  resident,  but  usually  seen  singly  or  in  pairs.  On 
March  31  ('94,  Blogg)  a  pair  were  found  building,  and  on 
April  7  the  nest  contained  1  egg.  On  July  26  ('94)  young 
just  out  of  the  nest  were  observed. 

On  June  11,  '95,  a  single  bird  was  noted  on  Dan's  Mountain, 
and  on  July  6  f  95,  Tylor),  a  pair  were  feeding  young  at  Deer 
Park. 

Sitta  canadensis  (728).     Ked-breasted  Nuthatch. 

Common  during  some  winters,  this  species  is  either  wanting, 
or  very  rare  during  others.  During  the  severe  winter  of  '92—3, 
they  were  quite  numerous  round  Baltimore.  Usually  found 
singly,  at  times  several  may  be  seen  fairly  close  together.  Sep- 
tember 11  ('80,  Resler)  and  May  6  ('93,  Gray),  are  extreme 
dates;  on  this  last  day  they  were  quite  numerous  and  a  number 
of  specimens  were  taken.  At  Washington  to  May  10  (Rich- 
mond), and  at  Hagerstown  to  May  4  (Small). 

Sitta  pusilla  (729).     Brown-headed  Nuthatch. 

Apparently  a  regular  summer  resident  in  southern  Maryland. 
On  May  28,  92,  in  Queen  Anne  County,  I  found  a  pair  building 
a  nest  in  a  small  hole  in  a  dead  pine  stub,  and  later  in  the  day, 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant,  I  came  across  another  pair. 
In  Worcester  County  on  the  mainland,  about  a  mile  from 
Ocean  City,  on  June  8,  '94,  I  found  a  single  bird. 

"It  is  common  at  St.  George's  Island  and  Piney  Point,  Md., 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac,  and  on  Smith's  Island,  Va. 
Between  Cape  Charles  and  Brighton  it  was  noted  in  small  num- 
bers and  is  probably  common"  (Richmond). 


368  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

Par  us  bicolor  (731).     Tufted  Titmouse. 

Common  resident.  On  April  10  ('92)  a  nest  was  ready  for 
eggs,  and  on  August  4  (?94)  young  not  long  out  of  the  nest, 
keeping  in  a  close  bunch  and  still  being  fed,  were  seen.  Sets 
are  1  of  5  and  1  of  8.  "Their  notes  are  heard  loudest  on 
clear  winter  days,  and  at  Hagerstown  they  are  locally  called 
'  Storm  Bird ' "  (Small).  On  Dan's  Mountain  I  noted  single 
birds  on  June  11  and  12,  '95. 

Parus  atricapillus  (735).     Chickadee. 

Irregular  winter  visitant,  sometimes  common  in  cold  seasons 
('92-3  for  instance),  when  the  majority  of  the  following  species 
leave  us.  Noted  from  October  15  ('92;  '93)  to  March  21  ('95). 

"Mr.  Henry  Marshall  has  taken  it  at  Laurel"  (A.  C.,  37). 
"This  bird  was  very  abundant  about  Washington  during 
March  and  April,  '85.  .  .  .  Owing  probably  to  the  severe 
winter  they  were  driven  south,  returning  about  the  middle  of 
March ;  the  first  specimens  were  taken  March  15,  and  others 
were  taken  every  week  until  April  19,  when  6  were  shot  and 
many  others  seen.  The  weather  during  April  was  fine  and 
warm,  and  the  birds  were  singing  and  apparently  quite  at  home. 
But  few  P.  carolinensis  were  seen  until  the  last  week  of  April, 
showing  that  they  too  had  been  driven  much  further  south " 
(Wm.  Palmer,  Auk,  ii,  304).  Noted  at  Hagerstown  as  "com- 
mon during  the  winter  of  '80-81 ";  none,  however,  were  seen 
the  previous  or  the  two  succeding  seasons  (Small). 

Parus  carolinensis  (736).     Carolina  Chickadee. 

Common  resident.  On  April  23  ('93)  a  nest  held  2  fresh 
eggs,  and  on  July  23  ('93)  young,  not  long  out  of  the  nest,  were 
seen.  Sets  are  2  of  2,  1  of  3,  2  of  4,  1  of  5,  1  of  6,  and 
2  of  7. 

At  Hagerstown  "resident,  but  scarce  in  summer"  (Small). 
On  Dan's  Mountain,  June  6,  '95,  young  were  in  the  nest  of  the 
only  pair  seen. 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY  OF   SCIENCES.  369 

Family  SYLVIIDJS — Kinglets  and  Gnatcatchers. 
Regulus  satrapa  (748).     Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 

Winter  resident;  very  common  during  some  seasons  ('92-3, 
for  instance)  and  comparatively  rare  others.  They  are,  how- 
ever, most  numerous  during  migrations,  thinning  out  about  the 
end  of  October  and  getting  numerous  early  in  March.  Extreme 
dates  are  September  30  ('93,  Gray)  and  April  22  ('93,  Gray). 
At  Washington  "one  was  taken  on  April  27  ('88,  Hasbrouck) " 
(Richmond),  and  at  Hagerstown  it  was  noted  as  "staying  until 
May"  (Small). 

Regulus  calendula  (749).     Kuby-crowned  Kinglet. 

A  common  migrant ;  possibly  a  few  winter  with  us  during 
mild  seasons.  Noted  from  September  26  ('94,  Resler)  to  Novem- 
ber 5  ('92,  Gray),  and  from  April  2  ('87,  Resler)  to  May  7 
('93).  At  Hagerstown,  a  "common  migrant  in  March  and 
April,  October  and  November ;  plentiful  in  fall,  but  scarce  in 
spring"  (Small).  At  Washington  "from  September  25  ('87) 
to  early  in  November,  and  from  April  8  ('88)  to  May  10  ('91). 
Specimens  have  been  taken  in  winter:  two  on  December  1 
('89,  C.  W.  Richmond ;  A.  K.Fisher),  one  on  December  15,  '89, 
and  2  others  seen,  and  1  on  February  9  (91,  Figgins)"  (Rich- 
mond). "On  December  5,  92,  I  saw  and  positively  identified 
a  single  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet  in  the  grounds  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  and  also  saw  what  was  presumably  the 
same  individual  on  January  5,  6  and  14,  '93,  this  period  cover- 
ing some  of  the  most  severe  weather  ever  known  here"  (E.  W. 
Clyde  Todd,  Auk,  x,  206). 

Polioptila  cserulea  (751).     Blue-gray   Gnatcatcher. 

Fairly  common  during  summer  in  restricted  localities,  from 
April  1  ('93,  Gray)  to  September  14  ('93,  Gray).  At  Wash- 
ington "  from  April  5  to  September ;  one  was  shot  on  No- 
vember 23,  '90"  (Richmond).  On  May  7  ('93),  a  nest  was 
nearly  finished;  May  14  ('93,  Blogg)  and  June  4  ('95,  Fisher) 
are  extremes  for  eggs.  Sets  are  7  of  4, 


TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

On  June  12,  '94,  on  the  Isle  of  Wight,  near  Ocean  City,  I 
saw  two  pairs  with  young  just  out  of  the  nests. 

Family  TUEDID^: — Thrushes,  Bluebirds,   etc. 
Turdus  mustelinus  (755).     Wood  Thrush. 

Common  resident  from  April  29  ('93  ;  '94)  to  October  2  (795). 
Extreme  dates  are  April  13  ('92)  and  October  15  ('93).  At 
Washington  "several  were  seen  on  April  19,  '91,  and  they  were 
common  the  next  day"  (Richmond).  At  Vale  Summit  they 
were  fairly  numerous,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Eggs  are  recorded  from  May  18  ('91;  '95)  to  July  28  ('95). 
Sets  are  1  of  1,  18  of  2,  30  of  3,  and  16  of  4. 

Turdus  fuscescens  (756).     Wilson's  Thrush. 

Fairly  common  migrant,  from  April  23  ('93,  Fisher)  to  May 
30  ('92,  Blogg)  and  from  August  29  ('93,  Gray)  to  October  6 
('94).  At  Washington  «  from  April  26  to  May  28,  and  from 
August  18  ('89,  Figgins)  to  the  end  of  September"  (Richmond). 
At  Hagerstown  it  was  noted  in  October  ('79,  Small).  On  July 
6,  '95  (Tylor),  a  pair  were  feeding  young  at  Deer  Park. 

Turdus  aliciae  (757).     Gray-cheeked  Thrush. 

Regular,  but  not  very  common  migrant,  from  May  12  ('92, 
Wholey)  to  May  30  ('92,  Resler),  and  from  September  12  ('94, 
Resler)  to  October  16  ('92,  Wholey).  At  Washington  "rather 
common  from  May  10  to  June  5,  and  from  September  10 
to  October  10"  (Richmond). 

Turdus  alicise  bicknelli  (757a).     Bicknell's  Thrush. 

Apparently  a  rare  migrant.  "At  Laurel  Mr.  Robert 
Ridgway  shot  an  adult  male  on  May  14,  '88,  and  4  days  later 
an  adult  female ;  near  Washington  on  October  3,  '85,  I  secured 
an  adult  male"  (Richmond). 


1895]  MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES.  371 

Turdus  ustulatus  swainsonii  (758a).     Olive-backed  Thrush. 

Common  migrant  from  April  30  ('92,  Wholey)  to  May  28 
('93,  Wholey),  and  from  September  16  (92,  Pleasants)  to  Octo- 
ber 13  ('94).  At  Washington  "until  Oct.  20,  '90"  (Rich- 
mond). 

Turdus  aonalaschkae  pallasii  (7596).     Hermit  Thrush. 

A  common  migrant  from  October  4  ('94)  to  November  28 
('91,  Resler),  and  from  March  23  ('89,  Resler;  94,  Fisher)  to 
May  21  ('92,  Gray).  It  also  stays  with  us  sparingly  during 
winter,  single  birds  being  taken  as  follows  :  December  24,  '92 
(Wholey);  January  1,  '92  (Wholey);  January  8,  '87  (Resler); 
January  17,  '92  (Wholey);  January  20,  '93  (Gray)  ;  January 
27,  '95  (F.  C.  K.),  1  seen;  January  29,  '80  (Resler),  1  seen; 
February  6,  '76  (Resler),  1  seen ;  February  22,  '92  (Gray),  1 
seen;  and  March  5,  '90  (Resler).  In  Somerset  County  they 
were  common  from  November  13  to  22,  '94  (Fisher).  On 
July  9,  '90,  an  adult  female  was  shot  in  Howard  County, 
about  fifteen  miles  southwest  of  Baltimore  City,  by  A.  Resler 
(Forest  and  Stream,  xxxv,  11). 

Merula  migratoria  (761).     American  Kobin. 

Resident,  abundant  in  flocks  during  the  migrations,  it  is 
commonly  scattered  over  the  country  during  summer,  and  a  few 
scattered  flocks  as  a  rule  winter  with  us  in  the  uplands  north  of 
Baltimore,  while  down  the  "necks"  they  are  more  numerous, 
and  in  southern  Maryland  large  flocks  are  characteristic  of  the 
winter  season.  Eggs  are  noted  from  May  5  ('96)  to  July  30 
('81).  Sets  are  7  of  3  and  10  of  4.  At  Hagerstown  eggs 
were  also  noted  on  May  5  ('82,  Small).  Not  numerous  at  Vale 
Summit,  June  5  to  14,  '95. 

Sialia  sialis  (766).     Bluebird. 

Common  resident.  On  March  18  ('94)  a  nest  was  ready  for 
eggs,  and  birds  were  in  another  on  August  12  ('94).  Sets  are 
2  of  2,  3  of  3,  5  of  4,  and  7  of  5. 


372  TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE  [1895 

In  the  fall  and  winter  they  often  go  in  flocks  of  5  or  6,  to 
about  20,  but  generally  they  will  be  seen  in  pairs.  On  January 
16,  '95,  Bluebirds  were  seen  at  Cumberland,  where  the  rivers 
and  creeks  had  been  frozen  over  from  December  25  (Howard 
Shriver,  Maryland  State  Weather  Service,  Report  of  February, 
?95).  On  June  11,  '95,  a  brood  of  flying  young  were  noted  at 
Vale  Summit. 

The  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  794-5  was  remarkable  for 
its  severity  all  over  North  America,  and  the  birds  were  thinned 
out  in  great  numbers.  Perhaps  from  being  more  familiarly 
known  than  other  small  birds,  the  almost  complete  absence  of 
Bluebirds  and  Phrebes  caused  considerable  comment.  The 
blizzard  of  early  February  completely  covered  Maryland  with 
2  feet  or  more  of  snow,  and  travel  was  stopped  for  about  10 
days  by  the  drifts.  Bluebirds  had  been  numerous  around 
Baltimore  up  to  this  time,  and  2  were  still  alive  on  February 
10.  Later  in  the  season  a  number  of  Screech  Owl  holes  were 
found  more  or  less  filled  with  Bluebird  feathers,  and  the  owls 
were  absent.  Only  a  very  few  scattered  Bluebirds  were  noted 
during  summer  and  fall  until  November  3,  when  my  note  book 
says,  "scattered  everywhere  over  Dulaney's  Valley  in  pairs, 
evidently  a  migration  flight";  on  November  9  a  flock  of  about 
20  was  seen.  At  Washington  "21  dead  birds  were  found  by 
Robt.  Rldgway  in  a  bird  box  on  his  grounds,  where  they  had 
been  frozen  by  the  blizzard  which  almost  exterminated  them  in 
this  part  of  the  country"  (Richmond). 


ADDENDA. 


Larus  atricilla(58),  Laughing  Gull.  About  100  were  below 
Fort  McHenry  on  April  23,  '95,  and  about  a  dozen  were  in  the 
lower  harbor  on  October  24,  '95. 

Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  (77).  "  The  Black  Tern  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  September  18,  ''93  I  shot  13  Black  Terns. 
Previous  to  this  I  am  aware  of  only  one  recorded  instance  of 
its  occurrence,  one  being  found  dead  September  18,  '82.  Edward 
J.  Brown7'  (Auk,  xi,  73). 

Phalacrocorax  dilophus  (120),  Double-crested  Cormorant.  7 
Cormorants,  presumably  of  this  species,  were  seen  at  Ocean 
City  on  September  23,  '94  (Tylor). 

Rallus  virginianus  (212),  Virginia  Rail.  Occasional  in 
winter.  One  was  shot  near  Baltimore,  late  in  December,  '79 
(Resler),  and  a  male,  in  full  plumage  and  in  fine  condition,  was 
taken  in  a  terrapin  trap  on  January  20,  '91,  near  Easton  ("Sink- 
boat",  Forest  and  Stream,  xxxvi,  44). 

Gallinago  delicata  (230),  Wilson's  Snipe.  On  December  29, 
'94,  a  female  was  shot  at  Westover,  Somerset  Co.,  by  Mr.  M. 
T.  Sudler. 

Tringa  alpina  pacifica  (2 4-3 a),  Red-backed  Sandpiper.  Three 
were  at  Lock  Raven  on  September  29,  '95. 

Totanus  melanoleucus  (25  f),  Greater  Yellow-legs.  On  No- 
vember 13,  '75,  one  was  shot  at  Back  River  (Resler). 

Totanus  flavipes  (255),  Yellow-legs.  Numerous  at  Loch 
Raven  from  September  22  to  October  13,  '95. 

Bartramia  longicauda  (261),  Bartramian  Sandpiper.  One 
was  shot  on  September  13,  '95,  near  Relay,  by  Mr.  C.  Gamble 
Lowndes. 

Asio  accipitrinus  (367),  Short-eared  Owl.  On  November  13, 
'95  one  was  shot  at  Bear  Creek,  Baltimore  Co. 


374  TRANSACTIONS   OF  THE  [1895 

Coccyzus  americanus  (387),  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo.  One  was 
seen  at  Pikesville  on  October  27,  '95  (Fisher). 

Carpodacus  purpureus  (517))  Purple  Finch.  Should  be  re- 
corded to  May  21  ('92  Gray) ;  not  to  May  31  ('93  Fisher). 

Calcarius  lapponicus  (586),  Lapland  Longspur.  "  The  blizzard 
drove  half  a  dozen  of  these  birds  into  Baltimore  City,  where 
on  February  4,  5,  and  10,  '95,  they  were  seen  in  company  with 
English  Sparrows  feeding  in  the  bed  of  North  Avenue  near 
Caroline  St.  They  allowed  of  quite  close  approach  "  (Resler). 

Ammodramus  maritimus  (550),  Seaside  Sparrow.  "  A  speci- 
men was  collected  some  9  or  10  years  ago,  on  Miller's  Island, 
Baltimore  Co.,  by  the  late  Mr.  Wolle,  Sr.,  at  whose  house  I 
had  the  opportunity  to  examine  the  bird  before  it  was  mounted  ' ' 
(Kesler). 


ERRATA. 

Page  255,  line  24,  for  Cantter  read  Cantler. 

Page  269,  line  19,  for  nivialis  read  nivalis. 

Page  270,  line  19,  for  Hutchin's  read  Hutchins's. 

Page  274,  line  1,  for  Ardella  read  Ardetta. 

Page  275,  line  29,  for  ccerulea  read  cserulea. 

Page  277,  line  24,  for  vialaceus  read  violaceus. 

Page  281,  line  5,  for  light  house  read  life-saving  station. 

Page  292,  line  14,  for  Black-billed  read  Black-bellied. 

Page  301,  line  27,  for  (399)  read  (-339). 

Page  318,  line  31,  for  (622a)  read  (466a). 


November  15,  1895. 


INDEX. 

SCIENTIFIC,  POPULAR,  AND  LOCAL  MARYLAND  NAMES. 


ACANTHIS  LINARIA,  528. 

Accipiter  atricapillus,  334. 

cooperi,  333. 

velox,  332. 

Actitis  macularia,  263. 
^gialitis  meloda,  277. 

m.  circumcincta,  277a. 

semipalmata,  274. 

vociifcra,  273. 

wilsonia,  280. 
Agelaius  phceniceus,  498. 
Aix  sponsa,  144. 
Alca  torda,  32. 
Alle  alle,  34. 
Ammodramus  caudacutus,  549. 

c.  nelsoni,  549a. 

c.  subvirgatus,  5496. 

henslowii,  547. 

maritimus,  550. 

princeps,  541. 

sandwichensis  savanna,  542a. 

savannarum  passerinus,  546« 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  619. 
Anas  americana,  137. 

boschas,  132. 

corolinensis,  139. 

crecca,  [138.] 

discors,  140. 

obscura  133. 

penelope,  136. 

strepera,  135. 
Anhinga,  118. 

anhinga,  118. 

Anser  albifrons  gambeli,  171a. 
Anthus  pensilvanicus,  697. 
Antrostomus  carolinensis,  416. 

vociferus,  417. 
Aquila  chrysaetos,  349. 
Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis,  347a. 
Ardea  candidissima.  197. 

cserulea,  200. 

egretta,  196. 

herodias,  194. 

tricolor  ruficollis,  199. 

virescens,  201. 
Ardetta  exilis,  191. 
Arenaria  interpres,  283. 
Asio  accipitrinus,  367. 

wilsonianus,  366. 
Assemblyman,  165. 
Auk,  Razor-billed,  32. 
Aythya  affinis,  149. 

americana,  146. 

collaris,  150, 

marila  nearctica,  148. 

vallisneria,  147. 

BALD-CROWN,  137. 
Bald-face,  137. 
Baldpate,  137. 


Bartramia  longicauda,  261. 
Bay  Blackhead,  148. 
,Bay  Muscovy,  163,  165,  166. 
-Beach  Bird,  248. 
Bee-martin,  444. 
-Beetle-head,  270. 
Bittern,  A.  190. 

Least,  191. 
Blackbird,  Cow,  495. 

Crow,  511. 

Marsh,  498. 

Red-winged,  498. 

Rusty,  509. 

Swamp,  498. 

Yellow-headed,  497. 
Blackhead  148,  149,  150, 
-  Black  Logcock,  405. 
Blue-bill,  148, 149,  167. 
Bluebird,  766. 
Blue-wing,  140. 
Bobolink,  494. 
Bob-white,  289. 
Bonasa  umbellus,  300. 
-Booby,  163, 165,  166,  368,  375. 
Botaurus  lentiginosus,  190. 
Brant,  173. 

Black,  174. 
Branta  bernicla,  173. 

canadensis,  172. 

c.  hutchinsii,  172a. 

nigricans,  174. 
Brass-eye,  151.     - 
Broad-bill,  142. 
Bubo  virginianus,  375. 
Buffle-head,  153. 
Bull-bat,  420. 
-SBull-head,  270. 
Bunting,  Bay- winged,  540. 

Black-throated,  604. 

Indigo,  598. 

Snow,  534. 

Butcher-bird,  621,  622. 
Buteo  borealis,  337. 

latissimus,  343. 

lineatus,  339. 
Butter-ball,  153. 
Buzzard,  Turkey,  325. 

CALCARIUS  LAPPONICUS,  536. 
Calicc^back  283. 
Calidris  arenaria,  248. 
Campephilus  principalis,  392. 
Camptolaimus  labradorius,  156. 
-Canary,  Fly,  652. 

Wild,  529,  652. 
Canvasback,  147. 
Cardinal,  593. 
Cardinalis  cardinalis,  593. 
Carpodacus  purpureus,  517. 
Catbird,  704. 


376 


TRANSACTIONS   OP   THE 


[1895 


Catharista  atrata,  326. 
Cathartes  aura,  325. 
Cedar-bird,  619. 

-lark,  619. 

Waxwing,  619. 
Ceophlceus  pileatus,  405. 
Cepphus  grylle,  27. 
Certhia  familiaris  americana,  726. 
Cerylealcyon,  390. 
Chaetura  pelagica,  423. 
Charadrius  dominicus,  272. 

squatarola,  270. 
Charitonetta  albeola,  153. 
Chat,  683. 

Yellow-breasted,  683. 
.  Chebec,  467. 

Chelidon  erythrogaster,  613. 
Chen  hyperborea  nivalis,  169a. 
Cherry-bird,  619. 
Chewink,  587. 
Chickadee,  735. 

Carolina,  736. 
Chip,  560. 
Chip-bird,  560. 
Chippy,  560. 
>     Winter,  559. 
Chondestes  grammacus,  552. 
Chordeiles  virginianus,  420. . 
Chuck- will's- widow,  416. 
Circus  hudsonius,  331. 
Cistothorus  palustris,  725. 

stellaris,  724. 
Clangula  hyemalis,  154. 
Clivicola  riparia,  616. 
Coccyzus  americanus,  387. 

erythrophthalmus,  388. 
Colaptes  auratus,  412. 
Colinus  virginianus,  289. 
Columbigallina  passerina  terrestris,  320. 
Colymbus  auritus,  3. 

holbcellii,  2. 

Compsothlypis  americana,  648. 
Contopus  borealis,  459. 

virens,  461. 

Conurus  carolinensis,  382. 
Coot,  167. 

A.,  221. 

Sea,  163,  165,  166. 

White-winged,  165. 
Cormorant,  119. 

Double-crested,  120. 
Corvus  americanus,  488. 

corax  principalis,  486a. 

ossifragus,  490. 

Coturnix  communis,  (after  289). 
Cowbird,  495. 
Crane,  194. 

Blue,  194. 

Sandhill,  206. 

White,  196, 197,  (200  young). 
Creek  Blackhead,  149. 

Bedhead,  150. 
Creeper,  Black  and  White,  636. 

Brown,  726. 
Crossbill,  A,  521. 

Red,  521. 

White-winged,  522. 
Crow,  A.,  488. 

Fish,  490. 

Rain,  387,  388. 

Sea,  286. 
Crow-bill  221. 

Crymophilus  fulicarius,  222. 
Cuckoo,  Black-billed,  388. 

Yellow-billed,  387. 
Curlew,  Eskimo,  266. 

Hudsonian,  265. 

Jack,  265. 


Curlew,  Long-billed,  264. 

Short-billed,  265. 

Sickle-billed,  264. 
Cyanocitta  cristata,  477. 

DABCHICK,  6. 
Dafila  acuta,  143. 
Dendroica  sestiva,  652. 

blackburnise,  662. 

caerulea,  658. 

cserulescens,  654. 

castanea,  660. 

coronata,  655. 

discolor,  673. 

dominica,  663. 

kirtlandi,  670. 

maculosa,  657. 

palmarum,  672. 

p.  hypochrysea,  672a. 

pensylvanica,  659. 

striata,  661. 

tigrina,  650. 

vigorsii,  671. 

virens,  667. 
Dickcissel,  604. 
Dipper,  6,  153. 
Diver,  Great  Northern,  7. 

Hell,  6. 

'-Dog-bird,  202. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  494. 
Dove,  316. 

Carolina,  316. 

Ground,  320. 

Mourning,  316. 

Sea,  34. 
Dovekie,  34. 
Dowitcher,  231. 

Long-billed,  232. 
Dryobates  borealis,  395. 

pubescens,  394. 

villosus,  393. 

Duck,  Acorn,  144. 

-  Assemblyman,  165. 

„.  Bald-crown,  137. 

-  Bald-face,  137. 

Baldpate,  137. 

Bay  Blackhead,  148. 

Bay  Muscovey,  163, 165,  166. 

Big  Blackhead,  148. 

Black,  133. 

Blackhead,  148,  149, 150,  151. 

Bluebill,  148,  149, 167. 

Blue-wing,  140. 
~  Brass-eye,  151. 

Broad-bill,  142. 

Buffle-head,  153. 

Butter-ball,  153. 

Canvasback,  147. 

Channel,  165. 

Creek  Blackhead,  149. 
Redhead,  150. 

Crow,  221. 

Crow-bill,  221. 

Dipper,  153. 

Dusky,  133. 

Eider,  A,  160. 
King,  162. 

Fish,  129,  130. 

Flock,  148. 

Gadwall,  135. 

Golden-eye,  A.,  151. 
Barrow's,  152. 

Gray,  132,  135. 

Gray  Mallard,  132,  135. 

Green-head,  132. 

Green-winged  Teal,  139. 

Hairy-crown,  130. 

Heavy-tailed,  167. 


1895] 


MARYLAND    ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES. 


377 


Duck,  Jingler,  151. 
Labrador,  156. 
Lesser  Scaup,  149. 
Little  Blackhead,  149. 
Long-tailed,  154. 
Mallard,  132,  133. 
Marsh,  133. 
Old-squaw,  154. 
Partridge,  139. 
Pintail,  143. 
Raft,  148. 
Redhead,  146. 
Ring-billed,  150. 

Blackhead,  150. 
Ring-necked,  150. 
Ruddy,  167. 
Scaup,  A.,  148. 
Scoter,  A.,  163. 

Surf,  166. 

White-winged,  165. 
Shovel-bill.  142. 
Shoveller,  142 
Shuffler,  148. 
Spoon-bill,  142. 
Sprigtail,  143. 
—  Steel-head,  167. 
Stiff-tail,  167. 
Summer,  144. 
Surf,  163,  165,  166. 
Teal,  European,  [138]. 
Tree,  144. 
^Whiffler,  151. 
Whistler,  151. 
Widgeon,  European,  136. 
Wood,  144. 

E  \GLE,  BALD,  352. 

Black,  352. 

Golden,  349. 

Gray,  352. 

Spotted,  352. 

White-headed,  352. 
Ectopistes  migratorius,  315. 
Egret,  A.,  196. 
Eider,  A.,  160. 

King,  162. 

Elanoides  forficatus,  327. 
Empidonax  acadicus,  465. 

flaviventris,  463. 

minimus,  467. 

traillii  alnorum,  466a. 

virescens,  465. 
Ereunetes  occidentalis,  247. 

pusillus,  246. 
Erismatura  rubida,  167. 

FALCO  COLUMBABIUS,  357. 

peregrinus  anatum,  356. 

sparverius,  360. 
Finch,  Grass,  540. 

Lark,  552. 

Pine,  533. 

Purple,  517. 

Fisherman,  129, 130,  131. 
-     Hairy-crowned,  130. 
-  Pied,  129. 
Flicker,  412. 
Flock  Duck,  148. 
Flocking  Fowl,  148. 
Flood  Gull,  80. 
Flycatcher,  Acadian,  465. 

Crested,  452. 

Least,  467. 

Olive-sided,  459. 

Scissor-tailed,  443. 

Traill's,  466a. 

Yellow-bellied,  463. 
Fly-up-the-Creek,  201. 


French  Mocking  Bird,, 705. 
Fulica  americana,  221. 

GADWALL,  135. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis,  704. 
Gallinago  delicata,  230. 
Gallinula  galeata,  219. 
Gallinule,  Florida,  219. 

Purple,  218. 
Gannet,  117. 

Gelochelidon  nilotica,  63. 
Geothlypis  agilis,  678. 

formosa,  677. 

Philadelphia,  679. 

trichas,  681. 
Glaucionetta  clangula  americana,  151. 

islandica,  152. 

Gnatcatcher,  Blue-gray,  751. 
Godwit,  Hudsonian,  251. 

Marbled,  249. 
Golden-eye,  A.,  151. 

Barrow's,  152. 
Goldfinch,  A.,  529. 
Goosander,  129. 
Goose,  Canada,  172. 

Greater  Snow,  169a. 

Hutchins's,  172a. 
«.     Nigger,  119,  120. 

White-fronted,  A.,  171o 

Wild,  172. 
Goshawk,  A.,  334. 
Grackle,  Boat-tailed,  513. 

Bronzed,  5116. 

Purple,  511. 

Rusty,  509. 
Grass  Finch,  540. 
Grayback,  231. 
Gray  Duck,  132, 135 

Mallard,  132,  135. 

Widgeon,  143. 
Grebe,  Holbcell's,  2. 

Horned,  3. 

Pied-billed,  6. 
Green-head,  132. 
Green-wing,  139. 
Grosbeak,  Blue,  597. 

Cardinal,  593. 

Pine,  515. 

Rose-breasted,  595. 
Ground  Robin,  587. 

Dove,  320. 

Grouse,  Ruffed,  300. 
Grus  mexicana,  206. 
Guara  alba,  184. 
Guillemot,  Black,  27. 
Guiraca  cserulea,  597. 
Gull,  Black-headed,  58. 

Bonaparte's,  60. 

Flood,  80. 

Great  Black-backed,  47. 

Herring,  A.,  51a. 

Iceland,  43. 

Kittiwake,  40. 

(Kumlien's,  45,  see  43.) 

Laughing,  58. 

Razor-billed,  80. 

Ring-billed,  54. 

HABIA  LUDOVICIANA,  595. 
Haematopus  palliatus,  286. 
.Hairy  crown,  131. 
Haliseetus  leucocephalus,  352. 
Harporhynchus  rufus,  705. 
Hawk,  Bird,  332,  357,  360. 

Black,  347a. 

Blue,  331. 

Broad-winged,  343. 

Chicken,  333,  337,  339,  343. 


378 


TRANSACTIONS   OF   THE 


[1895 


Hawk,  Cooper's,  333. 
Duck,  356. 

Fish,  364. 

Hen,  337,  339,  343. 
""Long-tailed  Chicken,  333. 

Marsh,  331. 
—Partridge,  332,  357. 

Pigeon,  357. 

Red-shouldered,  339. 

Red-tailed,  337. 
-ftock,  356. 

Rough-legged,  A.,  347a. 

Sharp-shinned,  332. 

Snowbird,  360. 

Sparrow,  A.,  360. 
•"Heavy-tailed  Duck,  167. 
Hell-diver,  6, 153. 
Helminthophila  celata,  646. 

chrysoptera,  642. 

leucobronchialis,  (after  641). 

peregrina,  647. 

pinus,  641. 

ruficapilla,  645. 
Helmitherus  vermivorus,  639. 
Heron,  Great  Blue,  194. 

Green,  201. 

Little  Blue,  200. 

Little  Green,  201. 

Louisiana,  199. 

Night,  Black-crowned,  202. 
Yellow-crowned,  203. 

Snowy,  197. 

Himantopus  mexicanus,  226. 
Hookumpake,  228. 
Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated,  428. 
Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis,  77. 

IBIS,  GLOSSY,  186. 

White,  184. 

Wood,  188. 
Icteria  virens,  683. 
Icterus  galbula,  507. 

spurius,  506. 
Indian  Hen,  190,  405. 
Indigo  Bird,  598. 
lonornis  martinica,  218. 

JACKDAW,  513. 

Jaeger,  Long-tailed,  38. 

Parasitic,  37. 

Pomarine,  36. 
Jay,  477. 

Blue,  477. 
-"\Jingler,  151. 
Jowink,  587. 
Junco,  Shufeldt's,  5676. 

Slate-colored,  567. 
Junco  hyemalis,  567. 

h.  shufeldti,  5676. 

KILDEE,  273. 
Killdeer,  273. 
Kingbird,  444. 

Arkansas,  447. 
Kingfisher,  Belted,  390. 
King  Forester,  405. 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned,  748. 

Ruby-crowned,  749. 
Kite.  Swallow-tailed,  327. 
Kittiwake,  40. 
Knot,  234. 

LANIUS  B9REALIS,  621. 

ludovicianus,  622. 
Lark,  501. 
—    Cedar,  619. 
Field,  501. 


Lark,  Horned,  474. 

Meadow,  501. 

Prairie  Horned,  4746. 

Shore,  474. 

Sky,  474. 
-•  Wood,  674. 
Larus  argentatus  smithsonianus,  51a. 

atricilla,  58. 

delawarensis,  54. 

(kumlieni,  45,  see  43.) 

leucppterus,  43. 

marinus,  47. 

Philadelphia,  60. 
XLettuce  bird,  529. 
Limosa  fedoa,  249. 

hsemastica,  251. 
-Little  Black-head,  149. 
-     Striker,  74. 
Longspur,  Lapland,  536. 
Loon,  7. 

Red-throated,  11. 
Lophodytes  cucullatus,  131. 
Loxia  curvirostra  minor,  521. 

leucoptera,  522. 

MACRORHAMPHUS  GRISEUS,  231. 

scolopaceus,  232. 
Mallard,  132, 133. 

Black,  133. 

Gray,  132, 135. 
-    Marsh,  133. 
Marsh-hen,  Fresh-water,  208. 

Salt-water,  211. 
"-Marsh  Robin,  587. 
Martin,  611. 

Bee-,  444. 

Purple,  611. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat,  681. 
Meadowlark,  501. 
Megascops  asio,  373. 
Melanerpes  carolinus,  409. 

erythrocephalus,  406. 
Meleagris  gallopavo,  310. 
Melospiza  fasciata,  581. 

georgiana,  584. 

lincolni,  583. 
Merganser  americanus,  129. 

serrator,  130. 
Merganser,  A.,  129. 

Hooded,  131. 

Red-breasted,  130. 
Merula  migratqria,  761. 
Micropalama  himantopus,  233. 
Milvulus  forficatus,  443. 
Mimus  polyglottos,  703. 
Mniotilta  yaria,  636. 
Mockingbird,  703. 
r  English,  703. 

French,  705. 
-    Sandy,  705. 
Molothrus  ater,  495. 
Mother  Carey's  Chicken,  106,  109. 
Mud-hen,  Fresh-water,  208. 

Salt-water,  211. 
Myiarchus  crinitus,  452. 

NIGHTHAWK,  420. 
-Night  Partridge,  228. 
Numenius  borealis,  266. 

hudsonicus,  265. 

longirostris,  264. 
Nuthatch,  Brown-headed,  729. 

Red-breasted,  728. 

White-breasted,  727. 
Nyctala  acadica,  372. 
Nyctea  nyctea,  376. 
Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius,  202. 

violaceus,  203. 


1895] 


MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES. 


379 


OCEANITES  OCEANICUS,  109. 

Oceanodroma  leucorhoa,  106. 
Oidemia  americana,  163. 

deglandi,  165. 

perspicillata,  166. 
Old-squaw,  154. 
Olor  buccinator,  181. 

columbianus.  180. 
Oriole,  Baltimore,  507. 

Orchard,  506. 
Ortolan,  214. 
—    King,  212,  219. 
Osprey,  A.,  364. 
Otocoris  alpestris,  474. 

a.  praticola,  4746. 
Oven-bird,  674. 
Owl,  Acadian,  372. 

Barn,  A.,  365. 

Barred,  368. 
-    Booby,  368,  375. 
-  Cat,  375. 

Great  Horned,  375. 

Hoot,  368,  375. 

Little  Gray,  373. 

Little  Red,  373. 

Long-eared,  A.,  366. 

Marsh,  367. 

Monkey,  365. 

Mottled,  373. 

Saw-whet,  372. 

Screech,  373. 

Short-eared,  367. 

Snowy,  376. 
"^Ox-eye,  242,  246. 
Oyster-catcher,  A.,  286. 

PANDION  HALIAETUS  CAROLINENSIS,  364. 
Paroquet,  Carolina,  382. 
Partridge,  289. 

Night,  228. 
Parus  atricapillus,  735. 

bicolor,  731. 

carolinensis,  736. 
Passer  domesticus,  (after  517). 
Passerella  iliaca,  585. 
Passerina  cyanea,  598. 
Pavoncella  pugnax,  [260] . 
Peep,  242,  246. 
Peet-weet,  263. 
Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos,  125. 

fuscus,  126. 
Pelican,  Brown,  126. 

White,  A.,  125. 
Petrel,  Leach's,  106. 

Wilson's,  109. 

Petrochelidon  lunifrons,  612. 
Pewee,  456. 

Bridge,  456. 

House,  456. 

Wood,  461. 
Phalacrocorax  carbo,  119. 

dilophus,  120. 
Phalarope,  Northern,  223. 

Red,  222. 

Phalaropus  lobatus,  223. 
Phasianus  colchicus,  (after  305). 
Pheasant,  300. 

European,  (after  305). 
Philohela  minor,  228. 


Phcebe,  456. 

Pied  Fisherman,  129. 


Pigeon,  Passenger,  315. 

Wild,  315. 

Pinicola  enucleator,  515. 
Pintail,  143,  167. 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  587. 
Pipit,  A.,  697. 
Piranga  erythromelas,  608. 

rubra,  610. 
Plectrophenax  nivalis,  534. 


Plegadis  autumnalis,  186. 
Plover,  Beetle-head,  270. 

Big  Yellow-legs,  254. 

Black-bellied,  270. 

Black-breast,  243a,  270. 

Bull-head,  270. 

Field,  261. 

Golden,  A.,  272. 

Grass,  261. 

Killdeer,  273. 
^  Little  Yellow-legs,  255. 

Piping,  277. 
Belted,  277a. 

Ring,  274,  280. 

Ring-neck,  274,  280. 

Semipalmated,  274. 

Upland,  261. 

Wilson's,  280. 

Yellow-legs,  254,  255. 
Podilymbus  podiceps,  6. 
>oke,  201. 

Polioptila  caerulea,  751. 
Poocsetes  gramineus,  540. 
Porzana  Carolina,  214. 

jamaicensis,  216. 

noveboracensis,  215. 
Prairie  Hen,  305. 
Privateer,  332. 
Progne  subis,  611. 
Protonotaria  citrea,  637. 
Puffinus  auduboni,  92. 

major,  89. 

stricklandi,  94. 
Purple  Martin,  611. 

'QUA-BIRD,  202,  203. 
Quail,  289. 

European,  (after  289). 
Quiscalus  major,  513. 

quiscula,  511. 

q.  seneus,  5116. 

RAIL,  BLACK,  216. 

Carolina,  2l4. 

Clapper,  211. 

King,  208. 

Sora,  214. 

Virginia,  212. 

Yellow,  215. 
*"~Raincrow,  387,  388. 
Rallus  elegans,  208. 

longirostris  crepitans,  211. 

virginianus,  212. 
Raven,  Northern,  486a. 
Redbird,  593,  610. 

Summer,  610. 
Redhead,  146. 
Redpoll,  528. 
Redstart,  A.,  687. 
Reedbird,  494. 
Regulus  calendula,  749. 

satrapa,  748. 

""Ring-billed  Black-head,  150. 
Ring-neck,  274,  280. 
Rissa  tridactyla,  40. 
•"River  Shuffler,  149. 
Robin,  A.,  761. 

Ground,  587. 

Marsh,  587. 
-    Wood,  755. 
Rook,  167. 
Ruff,  [260]. 
Ruffed  Grouse,  300. 
Rynchops  nigra,  80. 

SANDERLING,  248. 
Sandpiper,  Baird's,  241. 

Bartramian,  261. 

Least,  242. 

Pectoral,  239. 


380 


TRANSACTIONS    OF   THE 


[1895 


Sandpiper,  Red-backed,  243a. 

Semipalmated,  246. 

Solitary,  256. 

Spotted,  263. 

Stilt,  233. 

Western,  247. 

White  Rumped,  240. 
Sandy  Mockingbird,  705. 
Sapsucker,  393,  394,  402,  636,  727,  728. 

Yellow-bellied,  402. 
Sayornis  phcebe,  456. 
Scolecophagus  carolinus,  509. 
Scolopax  rusticola  [227] . 
Scoter,  A.,  163. 

Surf,  166. 

White-winged,  165. 
Sea  Dove,  34. 
Sea  Swallow,  74. 
Sedge-hen,  211. 
Seiurus  aurocapillus,  674. 

motacilla,  676. 

noveboracensis  675. 

n.  notabilis,  675a. 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  687. 
Shearwater,  Audubon's,  92. 

Greater,  89. 

Sooty,  94. 

Sheldrake,  129,  130. 
Shitepoke,  201. 
•  Shovel-bill,  142. 
Shoveller,  142. 
Shrike,  Loggerhead,  622. 

Northern,  621. 
Shuffler,  148. 

River,  149. 
Sailia  sailis,  766. 
Siskin,  Pine,  533. 
Sitta  canadensis,  728. 

carolinensis,  727. 

pusilla,  729. 
Skimmer,  Black,  80. 
Sky-lark,  474. 
'Sleepy  Brother,  167. 
Snakebird,  118. 
Snipe,  Black-breasted,  243a. 

English,  230. 

Grass,  239. 

Gray,  234. 

Gray-back,  231. 

Jack,  230,  239. 

Marsh,  230. 

Robin,  234. 

Robin-breasted,  234. 

Sand,  242,  246,  256,  263. 

Wilson's,  230. 
Snowbird,  567. 
Snow  Bunting,  534. 
Snow-flake,  534. 
Snowl,  131. 
Somateria  dresseri,  160. 

spectabilis,  161. 
Sora,  214. 
Southerland,  154. 
'  Southerly,  154. 
South  Southerly,  154. 
Sparrow,  Bay-winged,  540. 

Blue,  598. 

Bull,  581. 

Chipping,  E»60. 
Winter,  559. 

English,  (after  517). 

Field,  563. 

Fox,  585. 

Grasshopper,  546. 

Ground,  581. 

Henslow's,  547. 

Ipswich,  541. 

Lark,  552. 

Lincoln's,  583. 

Savanna,  542a. 


Sparrow,  Seaside,  550. 

Sharp-tailed,  549. 
Acadian,  5496. 
Nelson's,  549a. 

Song,  581. 

Swamp,  584. 

Tree,  559. 

Vesper,  540. 

White-crowned,  554. 

White-throated,  558. 

Yellow-winged,  546. 
Spatula  clypeata,  142. 
Sphyrapicus  varius,  402. 
Spinus  pirms,  533. 

tristis,  529. 

Spiza  americana,  604. 
Spizella  monticola,  559. 

pusilla,  563. 

socialis;  560. 
Spoon-bill,  142. 
Sprigtail,  143. 
"Squawk,  202,  203. 
-Steel-head,  167. 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  617. 
Stercorarius  longicaudus,  38. 

parasiticus,  37. 

pomarinus,  36. 
Sterna  antillarum,  74. 

dougalli,  72. 

forsteri,  69. 

fuliginosa,  75. 

hirundo,  70. 

maxima,  65. 

paradisaea,  71. 

tschegrava,  64. 
Stiff-tail,  167. 
Stilt,  Black-necked,  226. 
Storm-bird,  731. 
Striker,  69,  70. 

Little,  74. 

Strix  pratincola,  365. 
Sturnella  magna,  501. 
Sula  bassana,  117. 
Swallow,  Bank,  616. 

Barn,  613. 

Chimney,  423. 

Cliff,  612. 

Eave,  612. 

Rough-winged,  617. 

Sea,  74. 

Tree,  614. 

White-bellied,  614. 
Swan,  Trumpeter,  181. 

Whistling,  180. 
Swift,  Chimney,  423. 
Sylvania  canadensis,  686. 

mitrata,  684. 

pusilla,  685. 

Symphemia  semipalmata,  258. 
Syrnium  nebulosum,  368. 

TACHYCINETA  BICOLOR,  614. 
Tanager,  Scarlet,  608. 

Summer,  610. 
Tantalus  loculator,  188. 
Jar-bucket,  163,  165,  166. 
Tar-pot,  163, 165,  166. 
Teal,  139, 140. 

Blue-winged,  140. 

European  [138]. 

Green-winged,  139. 
Tern,  Arctic,  71. 

Black,  A.,  77. 

Caspian,  64. 

Common,  70. 

Forster's,  69. 

Gull-billed,  63. 

Least,  74. 

Marsh,  63. 

Roseate,  72. 


1895] 


MARYLAND   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES. 


381 


Tern,  Royal,  65. 

Sooty,  75. 

Wilson's  70. 
'  Thistle-bird,  529. 
Thrasher,  Brown,  705. 
Thrush,  BicknelPs,  757a. 

Brown,  705. 

Gray-cheeked,  757. 

Hermit,  7596. 

Olive-backed,  758a. 

Tawny,  756. 

Wilson's,  756. 

Wood,  755. 

Water,  675. 
Grinnell's,  675a 
Louisiana,  676. 
Thryothorus  bewickii,  719. 

ludovicianus,  718. 
Tilt,  263. 
Tilt-ass,  263. 
Tilter,  263. 
Tilt-up,  263. 
Tip-up,  263. 
Titlark,  697. 
Titmouse,  Tufted,  731. 
Totanus  navipes,  255. 

melanoleucus,  254. 

solitarius,  256. 
Towhee,  587. 
Tringa  alpina  paciflca,  243a. 

bairdii,  241. 

canutus,  234. 

fuscicollis,  240. 

maculata,  239. 

minutilla,  242. 
Trochilus  colubris,  428. 
Troglodytes  aedon,  721. 

hiemalis,  722. 
Turdus  aliciae,  757. 

a.  bicknelli,  757a. 

aonalaschka?  pallasii,  7596. 

fuscescens,  756. 

mustelinus,  755. 

ustulatus  swainsonii,  758a. 
Turkey  Buzzard,  325. 

Vulture,  325. 
Turkey,  Water,  118. 

Wild,  310. 
Turnstone,  283. 

Tympanuchus  americanus,  305. 
Tyrannus  tyrannus,  444. 

verticalis,  447. 

URINATOR  IMBER,  7. 
lumme,  11. 

VlKEO  FLAVIFRONS,  628. 

gilvus,  627. 

nqveboracensis,  631. 

olivaceus,  624. 

philadelphicus,  626. 

solitarius,  629. 
Vireo,  Blue-headed,  629. 

Philadelphia,  626. 

Red-eyed,  624. 

Warbling,  627. 

White-eyed,  631. 

Yellow-throated,  628. 
Vulture,  Black,  626. 

Turkey,  625. 

WALLOON,  7. 

Warbler,  Bay-breasted,  660. 

Black  and  White,  636. 

Black  and  Yellow,  657. 

Blackburnian,  662. 

Black-poll,  661. 

Black-throated  Blue,  654. 

Black-throated  Green,  667. 

Blue- winged,  641. 


Warbler,  Blue  Yellow-backed,  648. 

Brewster's,  (after  641). 

Canadian,  686. 

Cape  May,  650. 

Cerulean,  658. 

Chestnut-sided,  659. 

Connecticut,  678. 

Golden-winged,  642. 

Hooded,  684. 

Kentucky,  677. 

Kirtland's,  670. 

Magnolia,  657. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat,  681. 

Mourning,  679. 

Myrtle,  655. 

Nashville,  645. 

Orange-crowned,  646. 

Palm,  672. 

Parula,  648. 

Pine,  671. 

Prairie,  673. 

Prothonotary,  637. 

Red-poll,  672. 

Tennessee,  647. 

Wilson's  685. 

Worm-eating,  639. 

Yellow,  652. 

Yellow  Palm,  672a. 

Yellow  Red-poll,  672a. 

Yellow-rumped,  655. 

Yellow-throated,  663. 
Water  Partridge,  139, 167. 
Water  Thrush,  675. 

Grinnell's,  675e*. 

Large-billed,  676. 

Louisiana,  676. 

Small-billed,  675. 
Water  Turkey,  118. 
Water-witch,  6. 
Waxwing,  Cedar,  619. 
Wheeler,  412. 
Whiffler,  151. 
Whip-poor-will,  417. 
Whistler,  151. 
Widgeon,  136. 

European,  136. 

Gray,  143. 

Wild  Canary,  529,  652. 
Willet,  258. 
Woodcock,  228,  405. 

A.,  228. 

European  [227] 
-Wood-hen,  405. 
~*  —Wood-lark,  674. 

Woodpecker,  Downy,  394. 

Hairy,  393. 

Ivory-billed,  392. 

Pileated,  405. 

Red-bellied,  409. 

Red-cockaded,  395. 

Red-headed,  406. 

Yellow-bellied,  402. 
^Wood-robin,  755. 
Wren,  Bewick's,  719. 

Carolina,  718. 

House,  721. 

Long-billed  Marsh,  725. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  724. 

Winter,  722. 

XANTHOCEPHALUS  XANTHOCEPHALUS,  497. 

YELLOW  BIRD,  529,  652. 
Yellow-breasted  Chat,  683. 
Yellow-hammer,  412. 
Yellow-legs,  255,  254. 
Greater,  254. 

ZENAIDURA  MACROURA,  316. 
Zonotrichia  albicollis,  558. 
leucophrys,  554. 


WORKS  AND  PERIODICALS  REFERRED  TO. 


A.  C. — Avifauna  Columbiana,  being  a  list 
of  birds  ascertained  to  inhabit  the 
District  of  Columbia,  etc.,  by  Elliott 
Coues  and  D.  W.  Prentiss.  Second 
edition,  1883.  (This  includes  the  first 
edition,  1861,  and  the  gist  of  P.  L. 
Jouy's  list  of  1877.) 

A.  O.  II.— The  American  Ornithologists' 
Union,  Check  List  of  North  American 
Birds,    1886.     (This    is   the    present 
standard  of  nomenclature.) 

Audubon. — The  Birds  of  America,  by 
John  James  Audubon,  Vols.  I  to  VII, 
1840-44. 

Auls.— The  Auk,  a  quarterly  Journal  of 
Ornithology.  (The  official  organ  of 
the  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 
Vol.  I,  No.  1,  appeared  January,  1884. ) 

B.  KT.  O.  C.— Bulletin    of  the  Nuttall 
Ornithological  Club.    (Vol.  I,  No.  1, 
appeared  in  January,  1876.    In  1884  it 
was  continued  as  the  Auk.) 

Bendire.— Life  Histories  of  North  Am- 
erican Birds,  with  special  reference 
to  their  breeding  habits,  and  eggs, 
by  Chas.  Bendire,  1892.  ( Gallinaceous 
Birds,  and  Birds  of  Prey.) 

Birds  E.  Pa.  and  N.  .1.— The  Birds 
of  Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey,  by  Witmer  Stone,  1894. 

Birds  X.  W.— Birds  of  the  North-West, 
by  Elliott  Coues,  1877. 

Birds  Pa.— Report  of  the  Birds  of  Penn- 
sylvania, by  B.  H.  Warren.  Second 
edition,  1890. 


Birds  Vas.— A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds 
of  the  Virginias,  by  Wm.  C.  Rives, 
October,  1890. 

Chapman.— Handbook  of  the  Birds  of 
Eastern  North  America,  by  Frank 
M.  Chapman,  1895. 

Fisher's  Hawks  and  Owls.— The 
Hawks  and  Owls  of  the  United  States 
in  their  Relation  to  Agriculture,  by 
A.  K.  Fisher,  1893. 

Forest  and  Stream.— A  weekly  Jour- 
nal of  the  Rod  and  Gun.  (Vol.  XXVI, 
No.  1,  January  27,  1886,  is  the  first 
number  I  have  access  to.  Two  vol- 
umes each  year.  No.  1  bearing  date 
of  the  fourth  Thursday  of  January  or 
July.) 

Key.— Key  to  the  North  American  Birds, 
by  Elliott  Coues.  Fourth  edition, 
1890. 

Manual.— A  Manual  of  North  American 
Birds,  by  Robt.  Ridgway,  1887. 

O.  and  O.— The  Ornithologist  and  Oolo- 
gist :  Birds,  their  nests  and  eggs.  (A 
monthly  publication  begun  in  1876, 
issued  by  several  parties,  published 
to  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  10,  October,  1893. 

Oologist.— The  Oologist.  for  the  student 
of  birds,  their  nests 'and  eggs.  (A 
monthly  publication  begun  in  1884. ) 

Smith.  Kept.— Annual  Report  of  the 
Board  of  Regents  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution  (year,  not  vol.). 


cv/  .    V> . 


LIST 


THE  BIRDS  OP  MARYLAND 


GIVING    DATES    OF    THE 


ARRIVAL,  DEPARTURE  AND  NESTING  PERIODS 
OF  OUR  REGULAR  BIRDS; 


ALSO 


INCLUDING  STRAGGLERS  AND  SUCH  OTHERS  AS  NO  DOUBT 
OCCUR  BUT  ARE  NOT  RECORDED. 


F.    C.    KIRKWOOD. 


REPRINTED  FROM  THE  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  MARYLAND  ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCES'. 


BALTIMORE 
1895 


FOURTEEN  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


MAR  2     1967 


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